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An aerosol spray will be used by FIFA to help referees mark where defensive walls should line up at free kicks. The spray will be used in a FIFA tournament for the first time at the Under-20 World Cup which kicked off in Turkey on Friday.
Referees at the event are allowed to use the spray to mark the spot where a free kick should be taken, as well as where the wall should stand – 9.15 metres away to prevent infringement.
“To have made a debut in a FIFA World Cup is undoubtedly the most important step we’ve taken together with the approval given us by IFAB (the International FA Board),” the spray’s Argentine inventor and producer Pablo Silva told Reuters.
The spray, approved by FIFA’s rule-making body IFAB in March 2012 for use in any competition worldwide, has already been in use in South America’s top club competition, the Copa Libertadores, and at the various domestic leagues.
“This obliges us to redouble our efforts so that, if all goes well, we can get to the World Cup in Brazil next year,” Silva added.
The spray, which comes in a small aerosol can, disappears between 45 seconds and two minutes after being applied and can be used on any playing surface.
Silva brought in his spray to leading referees at a recent seminar in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Confederations Cup and said the European delegates, who had not previously seen it, were impressed.
Silva got the inspiration to invent the spray after playing in an amateur match where the wall came within five metres as he took a free kick and the referee let play continue and did not heed to his complaints
Source: Reuters
