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The Nairobian

Premier League adopts vanishing spray

Football

By AFP | Jul 31, 2014

Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura sprays a line after calling for a free kick for Brazil The vanishing spray has been a great success at the tournament

The Premier League announced on Wednesday that referees in the English top flight will use vanishing spray to police free-kicks from the start of the 2014-15 season.

"Vanishing spray will be used in the Barclays Premier League from the start of this season," read a statement on the organisation's Twitter page.

"As at the 2014 World Cup, vanishing spray will be used by referees to mark distances for free-kicks and their walls."

The biodegradable foam, which dissolves within a minute, is sprayed on the ground by referees to mark where free-kicks should be taken from and the 10-yard (9.15-metre) distance that the opposition's defensive wall must observe.

It was judged a success after being pioneered at the World Cup in Brazil and has since been adopted by European governing body UEFA for the Champions League and Europa League.

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It will also be used in domestic competitions in France.

"At the Premier League we are open to developments that enhance the competition and it was clear from watching the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil that Vanishing Spray benefitted referees, players, and all of those who watched the matches," said Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.

The Premier League's adoption of the technology follows its decision to introduce goal-line technology, provided by British company Hawk-Eye, prior to the start of last season.

The first Premier League fixture to feature vanishing spray will be Manchester United's home game with Swansea City on August 16.