DUESSELDORF, Germany, May 19 (Reuters) - Franz Beckenbauer endorsed the use of goal-line technology that is set to be introduced at a World Cup tournament for the first time in next year's finals in Germany.
"I am very curious to see if it works or not," Beckenbauer, the head of Germany's 2006 World Cup organising committee, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday.
"It's the only form of technology I am prepared to accept being introduced to football."
FIFA are to experiment with the technology at the world under-17 championship in Peru from September 16 to October 2.
A "smartball" has been developed by Adidas, together with German company Cairos AG and the German Fraunhofer Institute.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already welcomed the technology, which involves a microchip sensor in a ball sending a signal to the referee when it has crossed the goal line.
Calls to introduce video-evidence, however, have been rejected by both Blatter and Beckenbauer.
The device should bring an end to controversies such as Liverpool's questionable strike against Chelsea in their Champions League semi-final, or the third goal England scored in their 4-2 victory over Germany in the 1966 World Cup final. "People are still talking about that third (World Cup) goal after all these years and this will certainly solve that problem," Beckenbauer added with a laugh during a visit to Duesseldorf's Rochusclub, which is hosting the World Team Cup tennis championship this week.
"I am very curious to see if it works or not," Beckenbauer, the head of Germany's 2006 World Cup organising committee, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday.
"It's the only form of technology I am prepared to accept being introduced to football."
FIFA are to experiment with the technology at the world under-17 championship in Peru from September 16 to October 2.
A "smartball" has been developed by Adidas, together with German company Cairos AG and the German Fraunhofer Institute.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already welcomed the technology, which involves a microchip sensor in a ball sending a signal to the referee when it has crossed the goal line.
Calls to introduce video-evidence, however, have been rejected by both Blatter and Beckenbauer.
The device should bring an end to controversies such as Liverpool's questionable strike against Chelsea in their Champions League semi-final, or the third goal England scored in their 4-2 victory over Germany in the 1966 World Cup final. "People are still talking about that third (World Cup) goal after all these years and this will certainly solve that problem," Beckenbauer added with a laugh during a visit to Duesseldorf's Rochusclub, which is hosting the World Team Cup tennis championship this week.