EHF to use video evidence for first time in Cologne

The highlight of the men’s European club season, the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne on 28 and 29 May 2011 will see goal-line video evidence in use for the first time anywhere the world in a handball match.

This new technical assistance for officials utilises a number of cameras to enable referees to check whether the ball has crossed the goal-line.
 
“For the first time ever a handball match will be using a live goal-line video evidence system,” said Michael Wiederer, Secretary General of the European Handball Federation at the Opening Press Conference of the VELUX EHF FINAL4.
 
“This is another step into the future for handball and we have a great chance to use the system at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 weekend as there is so much technology and TV cameras available to us.”
 
The technology will provide referees with the opportunity – if they decide – to pause the game if they are unsure whether the ball has completely crossed the line, or, as the video is linked to the match clock, if the ball crossed the goal-line before the end of half-time or full-time.
 
If they choose to use the goal-line video evidence option, the game will pause as one referee goes to the technical support table to view an instant replay and make the decision on what he saw.
 
The goal-line video evidence system and the option of pausing play for a replay will not be used for any other circumstances or decisions and will only be used by a referee to see if the ball has completely crossed the line or not. Coaches or players will not be able to make a request for a video replay.
 
The LANXESS arena has 15 cameras focussed in on the court, including the overhead ‘spider-cam’ and four ‘Super Slo-Mo’ cameras, all in High Definition (HD), of which some are positioned right on the goal-line.
 
The 19,500 sell-out crowd inside the LANXESS arena, plus the many millions more watching the live broadcasts in over 130 countries around the world, now has the chance to witness this development in action for the first time ever at the VELUX EHF FINAL4.