After years of a legal dispute, the Brazilian inventor of the free-kick spray is to get compensation from football's governing body FIFA.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court in Brazil rejected an appeal from FIFA and ordered the association to pay Heine Allemagne and his company Spuni Comércio de Produtos Esportivos compensation for the misuse of his invention.
Allemagne invented the spray in 2000, which referees can use to mark the position of the free-kick wall and then quickly dissolves again.
The spray has been used by the South American football association Conmebol since 2009 and was used for the first time by FIFA at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Allemagne accused the federation of misusing its patented product and demanded $40 million in compensation.
The actual amount of compensation to be paid was initially unclear. The company's lawyers wanted to wait for the written judgement to be published before asserting their claims.
"I have defeated FIFA in every aspect," Allemagne told broadcasters Globo. "It's the story of David and Goliath. FIFA is a giant, it was a 23-year battle. I am very proud. We have made history in world football."
FIFA has been approached for a statement.