Premier League adopts goal-line technology, their own FFP regulations

Two big decisions have been made by the Premier League today as the introduction of goal-line technology was agreed for next season, and financial measures on the Premier League’s own clubs ahead of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations were agreed.

Clubs voted in British firm Hawk-Eye, most famously known for it’s use of technology at Wimbledon in Tennis, as the providers of the new system. The sensors will relay whether a goal has been scored to the referee’s watch, while the cost of implementing it will come from central Premier League funds rather than directly from the clubs themselves. The technology will not, however, be used in Champions League and Europa League games, as UEFA has not yet ratified it’s use.

The meeting was also significant in agreeing the new financial restrictions which Premier League clubs will have to abide by in anticipation of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules. These primarily consist of two agreements - firstly, that clubs spending in excess of £52m per year on player wages - 13 out of 20 Premier League clubs at present - can only raise their wage bill by £4m per year for the next three years. Additional money from match-day income and sponsorship will be allowed to count towards the total, and one concession was that money from player sales is now also taken into account.

Secondly, clubs can only lose a total of £105m over a rolling three-year period beginning from next season, with owners being required to cover losses and guaranteeing funding for the subsequent three years. Previously, 13 clubs had voted for the arrangement, but on Thursday’s vote, one club switched it’s allegiance and 14 clubs voted in favour to pass the agreement.

The FA had already confirmed that points deducations will be used to punish clubs that break the rules, although it is not yet confirmed how severe the penalties will be.