By Andrew Warshaw
June 24 – For the first time in FIFA competitions, vanishing spray to prevent players encroaching at free kicks is being used at the under-20 World Cup in Turkey, the latest move to aid referees following the introduction of goalline technology at the Confederations Cup.
The use of the foam spray, an Argentine invention widely employed in South America, was given the green light by the International FA Board, the game’s lawmakers, in March, 2012.
In an attempt to keep the game flowing, referees in Turkey are using the spray to mark the spot where a freekick should be taken as well as where the wall should stand 9.15 metres (10 yards) away.
A white line is drawn to stop attacking players moving forward, defenders encroaching or changing the angle of the kick. It disappears between 45 seconds and two minutes after being applied and is being used on a trial basis in all 52 matches of the 24-nation tournament.
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