Goal-line technology decision set for March 2012

Goal-line technology could be used in the Premier League as early as the start of the 2012-13 season.

The law-making International Football Association Board will rule in March 2012 on whether to approve the system.

If it gets the green light then Fifa boss Sepp Blatter says leagues can use it from the start of the 2012-13 season, if "accurate and affordable".

Premier League boss Richard Scudamore has said England's top flight will use it as soon as it is allowed.

Blatter added that goal-line technology could also be used at the 2014 World Cup.

The Fifa chief opposed goal-line technology for years and appeared to have ended the debate on its future in March 2010.

However, the Swiss re-opened it after Frank Lampard had a legitimate goal ruled out in England's 4-1 World Cup defeat by Germany later that year.

Blatter later apologised for the officials' error, saying it was unforgivable and that it had changed his mind on the matter.

Private trials of different systems of goal-line technology are taking place this year, with the international board to make its decision in March 2012.

If the body approves a system, it will then be brought into law on 1 July 2012.

Blatter was speaking at a news conference in Brazil ahead of Saturday's qualifying draw for the 2014 World Cup, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro.

He also said that it was yet to be decided whether the recent experiment of using two additional referees behind the goal-line, which has been trialled in Europa League games, would be "installed as a general rule".

The experiment will be reviewed further in July 2012 after the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.