please log in to view this image Referees will use the recently developed vanishing spray at the World Cup next year to stop defensive walls creeping forward at free-kicks, Fifa's president Sepp Blatter has said. When a free-kick is awarded near the penalty area, the referee paces the regulatory 10 yards between the ball and the nearest defender and then sprays a line on the pitch to mark the correct position of the wall. The line then disappears from the pitch within a minute. Blatter said the spray, developed in Brazil and Argentina, had received a positive reception after being used at the Club World Cup in Morocco. "I think it's a very good solution. Some say it takes too much time and I was also quite sceptical at the beginning but all the referees who have used the system were pleased with it," Blatter said. The spray has been used for several years in Argentina and Brazil where it is generally accepted that it has reduced the amount of arguing over where the wall should stand and has prevented encroachment. "The representative of Bayern Munich said that here they can take free-kicks with the wall nine metres away, while at home it's only five," said Blatter. "It's a novelty, we will start using it in the World Cup in Brazil." http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/19/world-cup-brazil-vanishing-spray-blatter?CMP=twt_gu
The refs are gonna have to make sure they know their 10 yard 'step measurement' then. TV companies will doubtless super-impose the line to check the refs have got it right.
They'll have one of those laser measuring devices from b & q next And by 2018 A camera attached to the back of their heads
Can you imagine what would happen if the ref accidentally sprayed Ronaldo's boots whilst drawing the line? The ponce would go into full meltdown.
Sky showed this about 4-5 years ago on a Super Sunday when Richard Keys asked Andy Gray about it and they told Dermot Gallagher to take it to our FA. That said, I don't think he did.
Great idea. Lino's should do it for throw ins too. Wonder which pathetic **** will pretend they got some in their eye and roll around like a tart.
Hmm I like that idea, walls edging forward are annoying. Will the ref need a batman style utility belt though??
Yes Equipped with; laser range finder Invisible spray Mega phone Pepper spray Handcuffs And the cards
The free kicks will be flying in at the World Cup with the walls a full ten yards. I expect we'll be a victim of this. The dagoes with their fancy banana kicks will slyly defeat us (they couldn't beat us in a fair game).
I hope everyone knows that it isnt an invisable wall and they just use it as a starting point to jump forward. It stops them from being 5 yards away but it wont stop them from being less than 10. I find it incredible annoying when they use it in the MLS.
Referees shouldn't need to use it Any players encroaching the 10 yards should be issued with a yellow card. Enforce the laws of the game properly and this will stop.
I think it's generally accepted that it's just 10 big strides. No one really expects them to get an accurate 10 yards. But defenders encroaching within that 10 yards and the ref not doing anything about it pisses me off. This is a positive step. Unless it's used in the same way as the officials behind the goal, i.e. just for aesthetic purposes. As if he'd be in the wall anyway! What's that for? Just to have a go back at the crowd?
