English Premier League Welcome Vanishing Spray Next Season

The Barclays Premier League says it will introduce vanishing spray next season following its success at the 2014 World Cup.

The spray was one handy invention at the Brazil tournament, used to mark the position of free-kick and the distance the defensive wall must retreat.

It evaporates about a minute after being spread on the grass and it helps prevent players from covering unallocated ground at free-kicks.

The Vanishing Spray Was First Used in Fifa Tournament at the Brazil World Cup.
The Vanishing Spray Was First Used in Fifa Tournament at the Brazil World Cup.

Chief executive Richard Scudamore said they’ve backtracked on their previous plan not to introduce the spray and are now “looking forward to having” a spray canister dangling on the league’s centre referees’ waists during matches.

“It was clear from watching the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil that vanishing spray benefited referees, players, and all of those who watched the matches,” he explained.

“Following consultation with our clubs and the Professional Game Match Official Limited (the refereeing body), we have decided to introduce it in the Premier League and look forward to having it in place for the 2014/15 season.”

The spray has been in use in the Brazilian and Argentine leagues for several seasons.

“as an assessor at the World Cup, I saw first-hand the benefits of vanishing spray for referees, and for the game as a whole,” said PGMOL general manager Mike Riley.

meanwhile, the Football League body intends to hold trials of the spray’s effectiveness in next season’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, before it employs its use.