FIFA addresses refereeing fiasco
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 13:13 
PRETORIA - World football governing body FIFA has resolved to add two more football officials to monitor the goal line during the upcoming UEFA Champions League, in a bid to reduce the number of embarrassing refereeing errors that were apparent during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
If the experiment is successful, FIFA would then introduce the system internationally as it seeks to reduce the embarrassing mistakes being made by football officials on the pitch.
The football mother body has also set November 2010 as the deadline to come up with appropriate measures to improve match control by referees and assistants during major competitions.
FIFA was forced to convene an urgent meeting after history repeated itself during the ongoing Under 20, 2010 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is taking place in Germany.
France was denied a legitimate goal during their match against Germany after the ball bounced over the goal line from the crossbar before returning to play.
The disallowed goal, which was similar to the one that was scored by England in their group match against Germany, has reignited calls for FIFA to introduce video technology into the sport as a way of levelling the playing field.
The FIFA boss said his organization would ‘reopen the file’ on video technology during a meeting that will also include other football stakeholders later this year.
Football has been slow to embrace video technology – unlike sports such as cricket and rugby.
Prior to the 2010 World Cup, Blater vehemently denied suggestions from football players and coaches to introduce video technology into the sport, arguing that such a move would rob the game of the excitement that is brought about by its ‘spontaneous’ nature.
PRETORIA - World football governing body FIFA has resolved to add two more football officials to monitor the goal line during the upcoming UEFA Champions League, in a bid to reduce the number of embarrassing refereeing errors that were apparent during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.If the experiment is successful, FIFA would then introduce the system internationally as it seeks to reduce the embarrassing mistakes being made by football officials on the pitch.
The football mother body has also set November 2010 as the deadline to come up with appropriate measures to improve match control by referees and assistants during major competitions.
FIFA was forced to convene an urgent meeting after history repeated itself during the ongoing Under 20, 2010 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is taking place in Germany.
France was denied a legitimate goal during their match against Germany after the ball bounced over the goal line from the crossbar before returning to play.
The disallowed goal, which was similar to the one that was scored by England in their group match against Germany, has reignited calls for FIFA to introduce video technology into the sport as a way of levelling the playing field.
The FIFA boss said his organization would ‘reopen the file’ on video technology during a meeting that will also include other football stakeholders later this year.
Football has been slow to embrace video technology – unlike sports such as cricket and rugby.
Prior to the 2010 World Cup, Blater vehemently denied suggestions from football players and coaches to introduce video technology into the sport, arguing that such a move would rob the game of the excitement that is brought about by its ‘spontaneous’ nature.
