Brazil 2014: Spray for drawing line of wall for free kick has been authorised since 2012

The use of a vanishing spray, which allows referees to draw a white line on the ground to enforce a 9.15 metre distance between the wall and the kicker during a free kick, was authorised by the IFAB (International Football Association Board, the guardian of the laws of the game) at its 126^th annual meeting in Surrey (England) on 03/03/2012. Each confederation, national federation and professional league is free to use it, or not.

The opening 2014 World Cup match between Brazil and Croatia (3-1), on 12/06/2014, was the first match in the history of the World Cup where a referee -- Yuichi Nishimura of Japan -- used this spray. Made by the Argentine company Fair Play 9.15 Limit, the product disappears after a minute and does not damage the ground.

This innovation had already been used in the Club World Cup in Morocco (11 to 21/12/2013), the under-20 World Cup in Turkey (from 21/06 to 13/07/2013), and the under-17 in UAE (from 17/10 to 08/11/2013).

"This spray has an obvious deterrent effect. The required distance is kept for each kick," said former Swiss referee Massimo Busacca, head…