FRANKFURT: German’s Bundesliga refused last year to follow the English Premier League’s lead over goal-line technology but it has fallen into line over vanishing spray writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The Premier League decided to introduce the spray after the success of the referee’s aid at the World Cup finals and now the Bundesliga has followed suit.

A statement from the DFL said: “The World Cup free kick vanishing spray will be introduced as early as the next Bundesliga season for the first time in German professional football. Previously, the league board had decided unanimously at its meeting in Dusseldorf to trial it in the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga at the earliest opportunity.

“The German Football Association (DFB) will now resolve final details so the exact launch date can be set. The intention, however, is to use the spray for the first time on the weekend the Bundesliga starts (August 22 to 24 ).”

The spray, used for some years in Latin America, was tested by world federation FIFA last year at all its junior championships and then used at the World Cup in Brazil.

Created by a Brazilian, it has also been adopted by European federation UEFA. The spray will debut in this week’s European Supercup between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Cardiff and then in the Champions League from the play-off round onward, and in the UEFA Europa League from the start of the group stage.

The spray will also be used in the European qualifiers for Euro 2016, which begin in September.

It was seen for the first time in English football when used by referee Michael Oliver in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Manchester City at the FA Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

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