A decision by the International Football Association Board may very well lead to good technological sense at last prevailing in international soccer. 
 
 (Credit: NMA NewsDirect/YouTube Screenshot: Chris Matyszczyk/CNET) 
 
 There's a retrograde little sports event happening in England this week called Wimbledon. 
 
 The organizers still force players to wear predominantly white clothing. Yes, even on the practice courts. 
 
 And yet, way back in 1980, Wimbledon began employing Cyclops technology to make service line calls. 
 
 Meanwhile, soccer (or football, as most of the world knows it) contented itself with sad little men carrying flags, often somehow blind to balls crossing the goal line. 
 
 But that perhaps will soon be no more. For the BBC reports that the International Football Association Board has finally decided that it should experiment with goal-line technology, starting in December at the slightly insignificant FIFA Club World Cup (not to be confused with the World Cup). 
 
 You might wonder what had suddenly changed these crusty old men's minds. 
 
 Embarrassment, that's what. Soccer's administrators have so often been caught with their technological pants around their pale, gout-threatened ankles that even they have begun to notice. 
 
 Two recent examples come to mind. 
 
 In the last World Cup, a shot from England's Frank Lampard against Germany was seen to be far over the goal line even by the most diehard of Teutons in Bavaria and yet not by the three officials (evidence embedded below). 
 
 In the recently concluded Euro 2012, England was on the receiving end of myopic fortune when a shot from Ukraine's Marko Devic was over the line and yet an extra assistant official -- placed on the goal line for that very purpose -- still denied a clear goal. 
 
 With copious amounts of yoke and albumen still smearing their cheeks, the International Football Association Board has approved not one, but two systems for testing. 
 
 One approved system is Hawk-Eye, which has been in use for some time now in sports such as cricket and tennis -- though not always without controversy. 
 
 The other system is GoalRef, which has already been tried out in a Danish Superliga game. 
 
 Each system has its own technological approach. Hawk-Eye relies on six cameras, coupled with software that triangulates the precise position of the ball. 
 
 GoalRef, on the other hand, simply shoves a microchip inside the ball. No, it doesn't make it rattle. Rather, thanks to low magnetic waves around the goal, it monitors for any change in the magnetic field on or behind the goal line. 
 
 In each case, the process takes about a second and a signal is sent to one of the officials. 
 
 Those who truly adore football (it's a habit calling it that, please forgive) will be delighted to hear that the English Premier League -- known for its fast pace, English passion, and largely non-English players -- is reportedly keen to quickly sign up for one or both of these technologies. 
 
 Moreover, if the Club World Cup experiment goes well, there is talk of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil enjoying goal-line technology. 
 
 I understand that soccer is still a couple of years away from locating swift technology that can conclusively prove whether a player has actually been kicked, punched, gouged, pushed, or scythed, rather than simulating the results thereof. ||||| Story highlights Goal-line technology approved for use in football on Thursday 
 
 Global governing body FIFA and IFAB unanimously agree on decision 
 
 FIFA intends for goal-line technology to be used at December's Club World Cup 
 
 Two systems, Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, approved by soccer's lawmakers 
 
 Football's lawmakers have taken the historic step of unanimously approving goal-line technology systems for use in the sport. 
 
 World soccer's global governing body FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) made the announcement following a meeting in Zurich on Thursday. 
 
 FIFA intend for goal-line technology to be used at December's Club World Cup in Japan, and if successful it will also be implemented at the 2013 African Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. 
 
 Two systems, designed by technology companies GoalRef and Hawk-Eye, have been approved after going through two phases of FIFA testing. 
 
 FIFA president Sepp Blatter had previously opposed the move but said the turning point had been an incident at the 2010 World Cup involving a second round clash between England and Germany. 
 
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 Blatter was present when midfielder Frank Lampard's shot bounced well over the goal-line but was not awarded by the officials in a match England went on to lose 4-1. 
 
 "It is a real approach of modern times in football," he told reporters. "It is so important because the objective in football is to score goals. It's a help for the referee. 
 
 "I'm happy, I'm pleased we are able to go forward. When it comes to high level competition and you have the technology and you don't use it something is wrong. 
 
 "I have changed my attitude towards technology because of Lampard's kick in South Africa. That was the moment for me to say 'You are the president of FIFA and you cannot afford that in the next World Cup something similar will happen.'" 
 
 The English Premier League welcomed the news, expressing its intention to bring in goal-line technology in the near future. 
 
 "The Premier League has been a long-term advocate of goal line technology," read a statement on the organization's website. 
 
 "We will engage in discussions with both Hawk-Eye and GoalRef in the near future with a view to introducing goal-line technology as soon as is practically possible." 
 
 The IFAB is comprised of FIFA and the four UK-based football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is a body which decides on any proposed changes to the rules of soccer. 
 
 The announcement follows Blatter's recent calls for goal-line technology to be introduced in reaction to an incident that occurred during Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. 
 
 Co-hosts Ukraine saw a goal not given during a must-win group-stage match with England, when John Terry cleared Artim Milevskiy's shot after it looked to have crossed the line. 
 
 Following the game on June 19, Blatter used his official Twitter account to declare: "After last night's match #GLT is no longer an alternative but a necessity." 
 
 But his stance on the issue is at odds with Michel Platini, the president of European football's governing body UEFA. 
 
 The UEFA chief told CNN in May: "I'm against the technology. If you say OK to goal-line technology, then it is offside technology, then penalty area technology, and we stop the football. 
 
 "I want human people -- it's easy. I understand the fans because they want justice but with an additional referee we have the same justice." 
 
 In addition to Milevskiy's "goal" at Euro 2012, England have been involved in one other high-profile goal-line controversies. 
 
 In the 1966 World Cup final, England were awarded a goal against West Germany when Geoff Hurst's shot in extra-time rebounded off the underside of the crossbar. England went on to win the match 4-2 at Wembley. 
 
 At the same meeting, FIFA also confirmed it would permit the wearing of headscarves during a trial period. 
 
 As there was no medical risk to wearing headscarves when playing a game of football, it has decided to relent on a ban introduced in 2007. 
 
 Soccer's governing body had prevented teams wearing the traditional headscarves -- which protect the modesty of Islamic girls and women -- for safety reasons and to prevent political or religious statements. ||||| Soccer gave its stamp of approval Thursday to goal-line technology and headscarves for female Muslim players. 
 
 Jerome Valcke, FIFA General Secretary, answers questions at a press conference about goal-line technology in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday July 5, 2012. Goal-line technology has been given the go-ahead... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this June 19, 2012 filer, England's John Terry clears the ball away from his goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group D match between England and Ukraine in Donetsk, Ukraine. UEFA... (Associated Press) 
 
 Alex Horne, The Football Association, answers questions at a press conference about goal-line technology in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday July 5, 2012. Goal-line technology has been given the go-ahead... (Associated Press) 
 
 Jerome Valcke, FIFA General Secretary, answers questions at a press conference about goal-line technology in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday July 5, 2012. Goal-line technology has been given the go-ahead... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this June 19, 2012 filer, England's John Terry clears the ball away from his goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group D match between England and Ukraine in Donetsk, Ukraine. UEFA... (Associated Press) 
 
 Also adopted was a proposal for a five-referee system to officiate matches _ placing an additional assistant beside each goal. 
 
 The three decisions will be "long-lasting and resonate throughout the world," said Patrick Nelson, chief executive of the Northern Ireland association. 
 
 FIFA said it will introduce the goal-line mechanism at the seven-team Club World Cup in Japan in December, with plans to use it in Brazil at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup. 
 
 "We want to make sure that the systems at the World Cup work at 150 percent, not 90 percent," said Jerome Valcke said, secretary general for the governing body. 
 
 FIFA will use both Hawk-Eye and GoalRef systems in Japan, after they won "unanimous" support from the International Football Association Board panel, Valcke said. 
 
 The English Premier League is expected to adopt one of the systems _ which are likely will cost up to $250,000 per stadium _ during next season. 
 
 The ruling on headscarves reversed a ban on the Islamic hijab that's been enforced in FIFA competitions since 2007. Soccer rules prohibit equipment that is dangerous or makes religious statements. 
 
 The IFAB gave its OK after FIFA's medical committee decided two scarf designs do not threaten the safety of female players. The designs use quick-release velcro fasteners and magnets. 
 
 FIFA Vice President Prince Ali of Jordan led a yearlong campaign to overturn the ban and allow Muslim women to play the game. Two Islamic countries make the headscarf mandatory for women in public _ Iran and Saudi Arabia. Last year, Iran forfeited qualifying matches for the Olympics because of the headscarf ban. 
 
 FIFA President Sepp Blatter was a member of the IFAB panel that accepted test results showing the technology systems quickly and accurately judge when balls cross the goal line. The IFAB panel is made up of officials from FIFA and the four British soccer associations. 
 
 Hawk-Eye is a British camera-based system already used in tennis and cricket. GoalRef is a Danish-German project using magnetic sensors to track a special ball. 
 
 Thursday's decision was expected and completed Blatter's reversal on the matter. FIFA previously blocked using technology to help referees make decisions. 
 
 Blatter's conversion came two years ago when he saw England denied a clear goal by midfielder Frank Lampard against Germany at the 2010 World Cup. Two days later, Blatter said FIFA must reopen the debate, though insisted it must involve only goal-line decisions. Video replay remains off limits for judgment calls, such as penalties or offside. 
 
 Blatter achieved his goal against the wishes of UEFA President Michel Platini, who opposes giving match officials any hi-tech aids. Still, Platini's rival project which seeks to keep all technology out of decision-making also received support Thursday. 
 
 The five-referee proposal, made by European soccer's ruling body, won IFAB approval after three years of trials in more than 1,000 matches. 
 
 That decision came just two weeks after Platini's pet project suffered its biggest public failure, helping eliminate co-host Ukraine at the European Championship. 
 
 A Hungarian refereeing team did not spot that a shot by Ukraine forward Marko Devic crossed the line before England defender John Terry hooked the ball clear. England won 1-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals. 
 
 Neither goal-line technology nor the five-referee system is binding on leagues or competition organizers. Both are options to choose _ and pay for _ once IFAB approved the principle. Major League Soccer has said it wants to adopt goal-line systems. 
 
 IFAB, a 126-year-old body, acts as guardian of soccer's rules. Six votes are needed to approve a change, with FIFA holding a four-vote bloc and the four British associations having one vote each.
– A big move in the world of soccer: The sport's governing body said today it will test two goal-line technologies at a tournament in December, reports CNN. One system uses multiple cameras and the other relies on a microchip inside the ball. Assuming all goes well, one should be in place for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Helping prompt the move was a notorious blown call in the 2010 World Cup, when a shot by England's Frank Lampard crossed the line but did not get awarded. "I have changed my attitude toward technology because of Lampard's kick in South Africa," says FIFA chief Sepp Blatter. "That was the moment for me to say, 'You are the president of FIFA and you cannot afford that in the next World Cup something similar will happen.'" What's more, the English Premier League is on board and plans to use one of the systems, too. (For the take of one happy and knowledgeable "football" fan, see Chris Matyszczyk's post at CNET.) Another new rule: FIFA will allow female Muslim players to wear headscarves, notes AP.