Special vanishing spray to be used in 2014 FIFA World Cup for freekicks

The World Cup 2014 has had many technological advancements

The FIFA World cup is one of the most awaited tournament in the world. With the recent introduction of goal-line technology in the World Cup, there also seems to be a new addition. The addition of vanishing spray in the World Cup is said to designate distances for free kicks.

As per reports in ABCNews, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said that:- “We started using it in all competitions this year and at the World Cup we will definitely keep on the same path,” Blatter said Thursday. “For the discipline of the game, it’s good. I was skeptical at first, but after talking to referees who used this system, they were all happy with it.”

Referees have been spraying the water-based, shaving cream-like foam on fields in Morocco to ensure players lining up a defensive wall against a free kick respect the 10-yard distance to the spot of the infraction. A circle is sprayed at the kick spot to keep attackers from rolling the ball forward.

“The representative of Bayern Munich said that here they can take free kicks with the wall nine meters away, while at home it’s only five,” Blatter said. “It’s a novelty.”

Reports also suggest that the goal-line technology is now currently in use in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco as an attempt to exempt phantom goals.

The vanishing spray was first used in a match between second division teams Los Andesand Chacarita Jr. in September 2008 before it was used in other major tournaments such as Copa Libertadores, Major League Soccer after which it was authorised by the International Football Association Board. The vanishing spray was also used in the FIFA U-20 World Cup which took place in June and July.

The creator of the spray, Pablo Silva had also said that : “We were losing 1-0 and had a free kick, and as I stood over it I knew I could make this left-footed shot and even the game. But when I finally took my shot, the ball struck the defender in the stomach as he was just 3 meters away,” Silva said. “I was in a rage, and I ran straight to the referee, who would eventually show me a red card for protesting. And that’s when it came to me.”

It is said that the referees for the World Cup have agreed to the use of the spray and also Silva holds special workshops for them as to train them on the use of the spray.

There has also been some criticism by former Italian international, Marcelo Lippi. Marcelo Lippi has said that: ” It’s an intelligent thing. It can be useful only at the point where the referees actually measures the distance between the attackers and the line. Twice I saw a 15-meter difference, which is way too much.”