Vanishing spray to be used in Champions League

The vanishing spray that has been a popular innovation at this summer's World Cup will be used in next season's Champions League, according to its creator.

Heine Allegmagne's device allows referees to ensure that walls do not encroach closer than 10 yards when defending free kicks, by drawing a bright white foam on the pitch which evaporates after around a minute.

Allegmagne hopes that it is only a matter of time before Premier League fans see the spray used in England.

"It's already been agreed that UEFA will use this in their championships," he told reporters. "Some people have been conservative but I hope that people around the world, including the Premier League, will be impressed by what they have seen in this World Cup.

"The eureka moment came when I was listening to the radio and the commentator was talking about the wall not staying back. It came to me I could do something.

"I wanted to solve a technical problem that had been plaguing football for more than a century. The big historic moment came in 2000 when the spray was first used here in Belo Horizonte."

Premier League clubs are expected to discuss whether to introduce the vanishing spray, after reading a report written by referees chief Mike Riley.