FIFA has approved the use of goal-line technology for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil as well as the 2013 Confederations Cup.

A statement on the FIFA website read: "After a successful implementation of Goal-Line Technology (GLT) at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December 2012, FIFA has decided to use GLT at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 and 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

"The aim is to use GLT in order to support the match officials and to install a system in all stadia, pending the successful installation, and pre-match referee tests."

Two systems – Hawkeye and Goalref, have already been licensed by the governing body while two other companies from Germany are also in the hunt to provide their systems for the tournaments with the winner expected to be announced in early April.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has pushed for goal-line technology ever since he watched Frank Lampard denied a legitimate goal in England's defeat by Germany in the 2010 World Cup.

However, goal-line technology is not favoured by UEFA, which instead prefers to employ two extra linesmen, one on each goal line.