Football's rulemakers have given the go-ahead for the development of goal-line technology systems.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting in Manchester laid down a number of criteria which the systems must follow, including that they must send an instantaneous signal to referees.

The decision means a number of systems will now be developed further, including one being proposed by the Premier League and the company Hawk-Eye, which already has systems being used in cricket and tennis.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick, who was hosting the meeting, told a news conference: "This is a critical moment and there is a general consensus that this is the time to move forward.

"We all believe that goal-line technology is the right way forward for the game.

"These incidents are happening on a regular basis. If we are going to introduce it, it has got to be 100 per cent accurate."

Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson added: "We are pleased with the reception that our presentation got and that we can progress to further stages of testing the Hawkeye system."

The IFAB laid down four criteria for the goal-line technology systems: that technology should only apply to goal-line decisions, that the systems must be 100 per cent accurate, that the signal to the referee must be instantaneous, and that the signal is only communicated to the match officials.

Adidas and German firm Cairos will also continue to develop their system where there is a microchip inside the ball.