FIFA rules out ref aids for World Cup

World governing body FIFA on Wednesday ruled out the introduction of both video technology and goal-line assistant referees at next summer’s World Cup in South Africa .

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter said that the question of adding two officials to keep an eye on action in and around the critical penalty box area had been discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the FIFA executive committee, but it had been decided to stick with the existing system.

“We have decided that for World Cup 2010, there will be no change in refereeing. We will still have one referee and two assistants,” Blatter said.

The meeting also ruled out the introduction of video technology to assist referees similar to the system used in rugby, cricket and tennis.

The decision follows the furore that followed Thierry Henry’s blatant handball in a World Cup playoff against Ireland last month that saw the French qualify for the finals.

The infringement was clearly seen by players close to the Barcelona striker when he crossed for William Gallas to score and it was evident from TV replays of the action, but the Swedish referee failed to notice it.

Worldwide indignation over the injustice piled the pressure on FIFA and Blatter called the extraordinary executive committee meeting to discuss the matter here ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw.

But while he said that changes to the system had been discussed, it had been decided that with just six months to go before the World Cup kicks off in South Africa, now was not the time to do so.

“We are at a crossing in the road with what direction to go with the referees in the future because the game is so tense that it is impossible for one referee to see everything,” Blatter said.

“Shall it be better to have more referees or assistants like in the Europa League experiment we have this year or to have more technology?

“We have decided to set up a committee to look in to all this — not just by the referees’ committee but also the football committee, the medical committee, technical committee to get deeply into this matter.”

Turning to the use of video replays to be made available to World Cup referees, Blatter reiterated his long-standing opposition to such a system, saying they would damage the flow of the game and “take away talking points.”

The FIFA decision will enrage many in the game who believe that the most powerful federation in world sports has been dragging its feet for years over refereeing in contrast to other sports which have successfully evolved.

Former France and Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, now technical director of the French football federation, is among those saying that he believes video technology could be used within four years.

“We all agree that we need to help referees,” he told delegates at Soccerex, the world?s biggest football conference, in Johannesburg last weekend.

“The fourth official should use a television monitor so that, in some circumstances, the match referee can speak to him through a microphone and just check and see on controversial decisions.

“It is not right that we go to a game as though it was the Stone Age and we cannot see replays, when someone sitting at home on the sofa with a cigar and a beer can see everything.”