World Cup 2014: Goal Line Technology Approved For World Cup and Confederations Cup 2013

Goal line technology will finally come to the World Cup according to a number of reports.

According to ESPN, FIFA will have to choose from among four different systems to implement in the 2014 World Cup. Additionally, the soccer federation is looking for other candidates looking to try out their systems for the upcoming 2013 Confederations Cup in June and World Cup in Brazil.

"Interested GLT companies will be invited to join an inspection visit to the Confederations Cup venues, currently scheduled for mid-March, with a final decision due to be confirmed in early April," FIFA said in a statement.

Goal line technology has been a major topic of conversation from FIFA president Sepp Blatter since the 2010 World Cup when England's Frank Lampard scored against Germany; the goal could have tied the game at 2-2 but instead wound up being a 4-1 thrashing by Germany.

In the 2012 Euro Cup, the referees missed another goal in a match between Ukraine and England. Ukraine's Marco Devic shot a ball over English keeper Joe Hart and was promptly kicked out by defender John Terry. While the refs did not call the play, replays indicated that the ball had crossed the line and should have been deemed a good goal. Had the goal counted, Ukraine would have tied the game 1-1 and potentially saved its tournament campaign.

Among the systems competing are the Hawk-Eye system and GoalRef. Both systems used magnetic sensors and both were showcased at the Club World Cup in Japan. The other two systems are German but have not been identified due to lack of licensing.