With no conclusive evidence if Andy Carroll’s header crossed the line in the FA Cup final last weekend, there were increased calls for the adoption of goal-line technology in football yet again.

It was the latest in a long line of controversial incidents to have exposed  football as living in the dark ages of sport.

Fifa has been making the right noises of late, suggesting that the technology could soon be ready.

As a result, the English Premier League claimed a few months ago that goal-line tech could be in operation in the English top-flight next season.

But now the FA has admitted that next season will be too soon, and that cameras on the goal-line will only be in use by the start of 2012-13 season at the soonest.

Fifa is expected to make an official decision on goal-line technology in July this year, and the FA says that means it will be too late to move on the decision before the start of the next campaign.

The news will disappoint most members of the football community, who believe it is time for the most popular sport on the planet to catch up with other forward thinking sporting codes.

"[Goal-line technology is] imminent and we'll look to put it in front of our clubs as soon as we practically can in terms of implementation," the FA’s chief executive Richard Scudamore told Sky Sports.

“But it is unlikely to be for next season given the time scales involved - Fifa approving it and the start of our season for time, many logistical things would need to happen so unlikely for next season but as soon as we can". Soccer Laduma