By DAN KARELL
Tennis technology will soon be coming to the Premier League.
After a meeting between shareholders of all 20 Premier League clubs, the league agreed unanimously to install Hawk-Eye as the method of goal-line technology at each Premier League stadium. It makes the English league the first in the world to use goal-line technology.
Hawk-Eye will be using seven cameras positioned around the stadium to detect whether the ball had crossed the line. The Britain-based company beat out GoalRef and Cairos for the Premier League contract.
The upcoming Community Shield match at Wembley in August will be the first time that goal-line technology will be used in a match between top tier clubs.
Here are some more stories to get your Thursday started:
LEIVA SIGNS EXTENSION
Having enjoyed a good run of form, and a long span without injury, Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva was awarded some more good news this week as well.
The Brazilian signed a new contract with the club he’s been with for the last six years, committing likely the rest of his playing career to the red side of Liverpool. Lucas has made 18 Premier League starts this season, already eight more than last year’s injury ravaged campaign.
“I am really delighted to have the opportunity to play for this club,” Lucas told the Liverpool FC website. “It’s where I think I belong and where I wanted to stay, so I am very happy and looking forward to a few more years here.”
Since moving to Liverpool in 2007, the 26-year-old has suffered injury after injury, but yet has still made 208 appearances for the club in all competitions.
XOLOS DEFEAT MILLONARIOS, FINISHES SECOND IN GROUP
Club Tijuana broke a winless streak with a last-gasp goal in injury time to defeat Millonarios in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday evening.
Xolos last win before Wednesday came on March 6, when they defeated last years champions Corinthians. Since then, but in domestic and international play, the darlings of Mexican soccer have come back down to earth.
Fidel Martinez was the hero for Xolos, controlling a long cross from Raul Enriquez, before slotting home past the opposing goal keeper Luis Delgado in the 93rd minute to give his side a 1-0 win over Colombian club Millonarios. It was Martinez’s third goal of the campaign, helping Xolos finish in second place in Group 5, and going through to the knockout stages.
Around the continent, Real Garcilaso of Peru, founded just three years ago, defeated Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño 5-1 to know them out of the competition. Corinthians of Brazil defeated Bolivian club San Jose 3-0, while Brazilian sides Gremio and Fluminense played to a goalless draw.
QUICK KICKS
Cruz Azul won their first trophy in 15 years by beating Atlante in penalties in the Copa Mexico Final. (REPORT)
Eintracht Frankfurt have been fined €100,000 by the German soccer governing body for fan trouble during the course of this season. (REPORT)
Bayern Munich have opened talks with Toni Kroos and David Alaba to keep them at the club for the long term. (REPORT)
Scotland manager Gordan Strachan believes that Rangers and Celtic will leave the SPL for another European league within the next ten years. (REPORT)
Valencia center back Adil Rami is interested in a move to England. (REPORT)
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What do you make of these reports? Do you think Hawk-Eye can make the transition to soccer? Do you believe Lucas can help bring Liverpool back to the top four? Do you see Xolos going far in the knockout stage?
Share your thoughts below.