FIFA ‘may put more officials on field’ at W.Cup

FIFA could put more assistant referees on the fields during the World Cup, the football governing body’s president Sepp Blatter said Monday.

The question will be discussed at the FIFA executive committee meeting on Wednesday in Cape Town, ahead of the final draw for the World Cup, he said at the opening of the Soccerex football business conference.

“We’ll make a decision to have additional officials for the World Cup or not. This is open,” he said.

The committee will consider placing additional assistant referees behind each goal, a system being experimented with in Europe, he said.

The committee will also consider ways of re-organising the system of qualifiers, he said, after controversy erupted following France’s controversial win over Ireland.

Irish players launched furious protests when they were eliminated in a play-off with France, after a controversial handball by French captain Thierry Henry led to the decisive French goal.

France’s play-off with Ireland was poised at 1-1 on aggregate in the second leg in Paris when Henry controlled the ball with his hand before teeing up William Gallas for the decisive goal.

The referee didn’t see the move, which was captured on video in instant replay.

Blatter said he had spoken with Henry about the incident.

“He explained what he had done and I took note of what he said and I said the players are taking advantages. By advantages means cheating against the laws of the game,” Blatter said.

“And he asked me if he would be punished. I said punished for what?”

“He said his family has received threats from fans because of his behaviour,” Blatter added.