But Standard Sport has learned that adidas and FIFA have always had the goal of getting the ball ready for the World Cup, which would allow the Germans to boast a competition dominated by " Vorsprung durch Technik" with stateofthe-art stadia and 21st-century technology. Refereeing controversiesdominated the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea and pressure is growing on the football authorities to follow the lead of rugby and cricket with new technology.
The adidas ball would give Blatter the chance to show he is answering the calls to help referees without resorting to the use of TV replays, which he fiercely opposes.
The technology allows the exact position of the ball on the pitch to be monitored throughout the whole of a game and to be displayed in three dimensions.
Once it has crossed the goal-line for a valid goal, the referee will receive an automatic bleep in his earpiece without any need for a fourth official watching pictures or instruments in the stands.
Adidas have already conducted two successful tests, but need to conduct more trials at grounds during games before they launch the product. After listening to the presentation tomorrow, the International Board will be asked to give the go-ahead for further trials in competitions.
The law making body would then be asked to make the device part of the rules at a meeting this time next year, paving the way for the balls to be used at the World Cup.
The Football Association have made a lot of noise about being keen to experiment with the new technology.
But the fact that adidas balls are not used in either the Premier League or the Football League would make it hard for the device to be tested at the highest level in this country.
It would make more sense for the ball to be tested in the Bundesliga and in the German grounds designated for the World Cup, maybe even during Champions League games in Germany where adidas balls are used.
Proposed rule changes on the Cardiff agenda...
Goal-Hangers' paradise: The Welsh FA are proposing a controversial change to make the offside rule applicable only in the penalty area. This probably won't even get discussed in detail because it is so ludicrous.
Professional Foul: When the "last player" denies an opponent an obvious goalscoring chance and a penalty is awarded, a yellow card, instead of a red, should be shown as the goalscoring opportunity is returned by the spotkick. Sounds like a boost to fans of the professional foul.
Red cards after final whistle: Referees should be given the chance to show red and yellow cards after the final whistle for incidents off the pitch. At the moment, they can only report them. Sounds logical.
Stripping off: Only players who completely remove their shirts in goal celebrations should be cautioned. So a little show of the belly is allowed now.
'Armless offside': Arms should not be included when players are being judged on or offside. The definition of being actively involved in play is also clarified, saying a player who is in an opponent's line of vision or distracts him with a movement is actively involved. Experts beware.
