Hawk-Eyes goal-line technology for error free decisions in the premier league

Goal-line Technology

What is Hawk-Eye?

If you follow Cricket, you might have seen animated video in which cricket ball trajectory is shown. Actually the trajectory shown is statistically most likely path of the ball. You might have seen similar animations in Tennis.
This technology is called Hawk-Eye which is developed by Dr. Paul Hawkins.
Hawk-Eye was originally implemented for cricket but only for commentators and television viewers and it was first used in 2001. In 2009, Hawk-Eye was used in a referral system for referring decision.

What is goal-line technology and what is its use in Football?

You know the most important rule in football, the goal is scored when the whole of the football passes over the goal-line. But in football every event occurs in a split of a second and referees may not be able to take right decision every-time. 

Some of the referring errors includes Frank Lampards goal in FIFA world cup 2010 against Germany which was disallowed because assistant referee didn't call for goal. But ball clearly crossed the goal-line and then came back out. Germany won that match(4-1).

There were many controversial decision in the premier league too and after that FIFA decided to use Goal-line technology.

How Hawk-Eye or goal-line technology Works?

Hawk-Eye got the contract from Premier League for goal line technology. With the help of high speed cameras goal posts on each end of stadium are focused. Each camera will catch a image and try to find the ball. If ball comes into the range of these cameras, they track the ball and generate a signal if ball crosses the goal line. This signal is then relayed to match referee.The signal will be protected with encryption to prevent interference. Match referee will have a special watch that will signal him if ball crossed goal-line. 

Now, you will ask that what if goal is scored from corner or when the penalty area is crowded with players? Hawk-Eye has answer to this question. Those seven high speed cameras are capable of tracking the ball even if there is small portion of the ball is visible. Cameras will work fine in case of fog, rain or snow too.

Just like in Cricket or Tennis, for television viewers the animated video will be available within 10-20 seconds of the event occurrence.

Goal-line technology will be used in premier league for this season(2013-14) and you will be surprised how quickly referee will decide to call for goal in this season.