Euro 2016 poised for goal-line technology

Goal-line technology could be used at next year’s European Championships, with the Champions League and Europa League following soon after.

UEFA, the governing body for European football, is considering the innovation for the Euro 2016 tournament in Paris next year, and discussed its potential at last week’s Executive Committee meeting.

Gianni Infantino, UEFA general secretary, said goal-line technology had “been on the table for some time”, with a final decision to be made in January.

“If it happens for Euro 2016 then it will also happen for the club competitions from next season, the Champions League and Europa League,” he added. “This will be in addition to the five assistants.”

England’s Premier League has been using goal-line technology since 2013. It was also used at the World Cup in Brazil last year.

The meeting also addressed stadium security following last month’s terrorist attacks in Paris which affected the Stade de France – the venue for next summer’s final.

“Since 13 November we have held a number of technical meetings to learn all we can about what happened at the Stade de France and around the stadium,” said president of the Euro 2016 Organising Committee.

“We have also been in contact with officials at the Ministry of the Interior, the Paris police force, security and intelligence services. Co-ordination with the state services will intensify over the coming days.”

In addition, UEFA has revealed that the tournament will offer improved services for disabled people at each of the venues being used. Better views will be created, while audio description and signage will be implemented.

Working with the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE), the body will work to make all stadia accessible for wheelchair users as part of its Total Football, Total Access initiative.