Football: Germany to introduce 'biological' vanishing spray

BERLIN - Vanishing spray is to make its debut in the German Bundesliga this weekend.

After Fifa adopted the measure of using a biodegradable foam which dissolves within a minute to help combat encroachment at free kicks at the World Cup in mid-year, several other federations and institutions have also adopted it.

Uefa now uses the spray in Champions League matches and it has been embraced in England and Italy too.

Three German second division matches on Friday night will herald the introduction of the spray, with the Bundesliga following suit from Saturday.

"During the World Cup in Brazil we saw that it works perfectly," said Herbert Fandel, the German refereeing chief.

Use of the spray was supposed to begin at the start of the season but was delayed due to regulations regarding the environment, meaning further tests were needed to be done on the spray.

"All legal questions have been resolved, there is no reason not to use the spray," said Lutz Michael Froehlich, another refereeing official at the German football federation.