By Adam Ellis
The EFL has agreed in principle to use goal-line technology from the start of next season after a meeting was held with representatives from Championship clubs this week.
Hawk-Eye, the same system used successfully in the Premier League over the past few seasons, will be given formal approval by Championship clubs come the EFL's Annual General Meeting in June following talks receptive to its introduction.
The EFL chief executive, Shaun Harvey, said: “I welcome the decision of our clubs to introduce goal-line technology into the EFL.
“Officials do an incredible job and this decision is about providing our match officials with as much support as possible to ensure they are best placed to make the right calls in even the most difficult of situations.
“The technology is widely adopted elsewhere in football, including in two of our competitions, and I therefore welcome it as an important addition to the Sky Bet Championship from next season.”
Hawk-Eye is referred to officially as the Goal Decision System (GDS) and comprises of seven cameras focussed on each goal. The control system which combines all views from the technology requires only two cameras to sight the ball in order to be given a conclusive ‘Goal' or ‘No Goal' decision.
The EFL already uses Hawk-Eye in the play-offs and latter stages of the EFL Cup. But it remains to be seen whether it will be Championship clubs footing the bill for the six-figure system or if the Football League can match a more resourceful Premier League, who have an agreed contract with Hawk-Eye.