Goal-line technology has been given the go-ahead by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) following a vote at Fifa headquarters in Zurich.
Two systems – Hawk-Eye and GoalRef – have been approved after passing a series of scientific tests.
They will first be used at December’s Club World Cup – which features Chelsea – and, if successful, at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup.
It could even be introduced during the 2012-13 Premier League campaign.
In a statement following the announcement, the Premier League said it had been a “long term advocate of goal-line technology”.
“We welcome today’s decision by IFAB and will engage in discussions with both Hawkeye and GoalRef in the near future with a view to introducing goal-line technology as soon as is practically possible.”
FA general secretary Alex Horne said it was up to the Premier League to decide on a timescale for implementation.
“It may be December until the technology is absolutely finally approved and installed in stadia,” he said at a press conference in Zurich. “Priority is given to the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan.
“The Premier League need to talk to the two [technology providers] and the clubs. My understanding is that clubs are supportive and, in principle, as long as all clubs agree it could be introduced part-way through the season, it could be before the start of 2013-14 season, it could be part way through.
“It might be that it is possible to have it part way through the [2012-13] season. If all 20 clubs agree a switch-on weekend I don’t think anyone is disadvantaged[ad#GBAF-2-pix]
