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.
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.
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
