FIFA president Sepp Blatter says Frank Lampard‘s “ghost” goal at the 2010 World Cup played a decisive role in the introduction of goal-line technology, reports BBC Sport.

The International Football Association Board voted unanimously in favour of introducing the technology on Thursday (5).

Blatter said: “That [Lampard goal] was the moment for me to say, ‘You can’t afford for something similar to happen in the next World Cup‘.

“We could say it is a historic day for international football.”

Fifa decided to act following Lampard’s goal and eight different systems were tested, with two – Goalref and Hawkeye – being approved after going through a second stage of testing.

Blatter continued: “In the autumn of 2010, we started tests and now we are ready. I am a happy man that we did it. The objective is for 2014 but now we have a system which is available for others.”

The Premier League has already said it plans to introduce goal-line technology as soon as possible, maybe at some point during the forthcoming season.

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www.tribalfootball.com/articles/blatter-lampard-catalyst-introduction-goal-line-technology-3332261

The English Premier League is expected to adopt one of the systems — which likely will cost up to $250,000 per stadium — during next season.

Also adopted was a proposal for a five-referee system to officiate matches — placing an additional assistant beside each goal.

In a related story FIFA gave its stamp of approval also on Thursday to allow headscarves for female Muslim players.

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.