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Goal-line technology has been voted the best football innovation of the last 30 years in a new survey of British football fans.
A poll of 2,000 supporters voted the instant replay as the second-best innovation.
Technology that allows referees and their assistants to stay in contact with each other through microphones came third, followed by undersoil heating.
VAR, free-kick vanishing spray and the modern football boot are also among the innovations which the survey's respondents said have improved the game.
However, 47 per cent believe the traditional match-day setup could be updated and modernised further.
The research was commissioned to mark the launch of the latest series of The EE Wembley Cup, where four teams made up from YouTube's most famous football bloggers and ex-international players will compete for a trophy.
World Cup winners Robert Pirès and David Trezeguet, Brazilian defender Cafu are among those taking part, along with ex-Chelsea footballer Michael Essien .
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memoriesShow all 31 1 /31Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Your First Football Shirt Alan Shearer, Lucy Bronze, Dwight Yorke and other footballers and famous fans discuss their first football shirt as well as some of their fondest football memories
Football Shirt Collective
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Andrei Kanchelskis winning the 1990 European Under 21 Championship for the Soviet Union Andrei Kanchelskis: "In my mind, winning a trophy for your country at any level is one of the greatest accolades.”
Sophie Standing
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Dwight Yorke on winning the treble for Manchester United in 1999 Dwight Yorke: “Winning the treble with Manchester United will always be my favourite achievement in football.”
Dave Flanaghan
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Graeme Le Saux on scoring for England v Brazil Graeme Le Saux: "Scoring against Brazil is definitely up there"
Peter O'Toole
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Alan Shearer on breaking Newcastle United’s goal scoring record Alan Shearer: “I can’t describe the feeling. It was just very, very, special.”
Matthew Shipley
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Bob Wilson on when Arsenal won the league at White Hart Lane in 1971 Bob Wilson: “My favourite moment is that Monday night at White Hart Lane.”
Daryl Rainbow
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Lucy Bronze on scoring the winner for England v Norway at the 2015 World Cup Lucy Bronze: "I'll never forget it as I'll never do it again."
Catherine Pape
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Gazza receiving a booking during England v Germany at Italia 90 Josh Widdicombe “Not Gazza’s tears but the bit when Lineker turns to the bench and says “have a word with him”
Luis Pinto
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Manchester United v Inter Milan in the Champions League Michael Marden: “Jaap Stam doesn’t flinch and Zamorano just coils away in fear”
Mark Long
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Alan Shearer scoring for England v Germany in the semi-final of Euro 96 Chris Scull: "I was so elated but at the same time in the back of my head I knew it was too soon.”
Lawrence Slater
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories When Pele dummied the goalie at the 1970 World Cup … and missed Neal Heard “I know he bloody missed but it is genuine genius.”
Marcus Marritt
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Nathaniel Chalobah’s debut for Chelsea Nathaniel Chalobah: “My favourite moment … making my debut for Chelsea.”
Joe Shiels
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Philippe Albert scoring for Newcastle United v Manchester United Jonny Sharples: “In the words of Martin Tyler it was absolutely glorious.”
Raj Dhunna
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories George Weah going “coast to coast” for AC Milan v Verona Amy Lawrence: “I watched it on Channel 4 and it actually made me fall off the sofa.”
Alvaro Hidalgo
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Ray Parlour scoring a screaming for Arsenal v Valencia in the Champions League Andre Mangan (Arsenblog): “Ray Parlour’s piledriver against Valencia.”
Conal Deeney
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Paolo Di Canio scoring a screamer for West Ham United v Chelsea Sam Diss: “In Paolo’s final year at West Ham it was his finest moment.”
Manuel Rios
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Darko Pancev scoring for Red Star Belgrade v Bayern Munich Jonathan Wilson: “Everything was controlled, precise and because of the speed of the move virtually undefendable.”
Sam Stobart
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Zinedine Zidane scoring in the Champions League final in 2002 Dan Walker: "I tried it once and shinned it straight into the air.”
Adam Forster
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Lee Philpott scoring for Cambridge United Max Rushden: “It was the only time he kicked the ball with his right foot.”
Agne Ziukaite
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Eric Cantona scoring that chip for Manchester United v Sunderland Ian MacIntosh: “He existing on a higher plane, he transcended actually achievements just by being … Cantona.”
Jack Bedford
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Del Piero scoring for Italy v Germany in the 2006 World Cup Michael Cox: “Del Piero’s perfect clipped finish into the corner.”
Dale Crosby Close
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Manchester United winning the Champions League in 1999 Carl Anka: “But the goal I celebrated hardest was Solskjaer’s against Bayern in 99. Obviously.”
Gus Scott
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Mark Hughes scoring a scissor kick for Wales Elis James: “It needs no explanation. Wow.”
Pol-Eduoard Flores
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Michael Essien scoring for Chelsea v Arsenal Adam Hurrey: “A first time shot he wouldn’t have been able to recreate in a million years.”
Johan Marais-Peper
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Steph Houghton on being named England captain Steph Houghton: “When I was named England captain, which made me and my family really proud.”
Michael Driver
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Jason McAteer scoring for Ireland v Netherlands Jason McAteer: “That was my moment to be a layer and remains my favourite goal.“
Matt Brazier
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Roberto Carlos scoring the ‘Impossible goal’ Sheridan Bird: "It is outrageous. Power and swerve.”
Dave Lyttleton
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories David Platt scoring for England v Belgium at Italia 90 World Cup Rob Warner: “When Platt scored that volley, as a Villa fan, it was super special.”
Michael Parkin
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Nottingham Forest fans saluting Stuart Pearce Mark Brigden: “The chants of psycho, psycho was spine tingling.”
Geo Law
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Ronaldo scoring for Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup final Daniel Storey: “This goal just makes me giggle with glee.”
CITYBOYS FC
Your First Football Shirt: a collection of famous football memories Roberto Carlos scoring that amazing free kick at Le Tournoi Rob Lee: “I still don’t know how he did it.”
John Sheehan
Ex-Arsenal footballer Pirès said: “Recent innovations in football have revolutionised the way we talk about and watch matches.
“I feel like matches have become more exciting and are packed with more action and drama as a result.”
The study also found three-quarters of football fans think technological advances have improved the game overall.
More than half said improved technology has given them more confidence in a "fair result" at the end of a match and aided referees' decision-making during games.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events A third of those surveyed said they prefer watching the game live, although nearly all respondents said they turn to technology for instant replays, match analysis or to watch a goal for a second time.
But almost a third said they would like to see the transfer window removed, so teams could buy and sell players at any point throughout the season.
And a quarter said the current transfer window should also apply to managers, so they could only be replaced at certain points in the season.
SWNS
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