IT MAY LOOK like an attempt by the referee to mask the smell of sweaty boots, but in fact it’s a clever new addition to soccer’s arsenal: the free-kick marker spray.

Invented by a former player from Argentina, Pablo Silva, the spray is designed for referees to mark a temporary white line 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the ball which defenders cannot cross. Within two minutes, the spray disappears without harming the grass or the players.

Silva, the director of the distributing firm 9.15 Fair Play Limit,  said he got the idea when he failed to score with a last gasp free-kick in an important match which his team proceeded to lose 1-0.

He claims the wall was no more than three meters away when he connected and the referee failed to have the free retaken. There and then, he felt something had to be done about this.

The spray has been used in lower league Brazilian football for a number of years, but got its first FIFA / South American Football Confederation (CSF) trial in the 2009/2010 Argentinian First Division and in the Copa Sudamericana (equivalent to the Europa League) this season just passed.

After it became a success in these competitions, it was decided to trial the spray in the prestigious Copa America.

Although this novel exercise is being used in Central and South America’s premier competition, there is no guarantee we will see this  pepper-spray type cannister grace the pitches of the Aviva or Wembley anytime soon.

Like goal-line assistants in the Europa League, the spray is still in the very early rule-changing stages, so don’t expect it to be brought in across the board anytime soon. FIFA’s International Board – those tasked with changing football’s sacred rules – have the final say on these matters, and history shows this body moves as fast as treacle.

The referees on the other hand move much more quickly with the sprays so as not to interfere with the game. Check out this ref in action in an American MLS match.