Van Gaal calls for technology to help refs

On the eve of his side’s Champions League last-16 clash at Fiorentina on Tuesday, Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal has suggested making radical changes to football including using a second referee.

Despite world governing body FIFA recently rejecting proposals to use technology during games, van Gaal wants to see the abolition of throw-ins and games decided by penalties and also wants a second official to oversee matches.

“It’s mad that we do not use the technology,” said van Gaal after rule-makers the International FA Board (IFAB) rejected ideas including the use of microchip-equipped footballs to signal whether a goal should be awarded in contentious goal-line incidents.

The 58-year-old says the speed of modern football matches now makes it impossible for a single referee to oversee games effectively and also feels it is unfair matches are decided by penalty shoot-outs after extra time is played.

In an article entitled ‘Van Gaal’s Revolution’ in German magazine Kicker, the Bayern boss reveals his vision of football in the future.

“The speed of the game has increased dramatically in the last ten years and viewing figures have grown, we must protect this interest,” said van Gaal.

“Throw-ins should be replaced with a free-kick, which will make the game more attractive.

“We need two referees, one in each half and diagonally positioned.

“As with other sports, there should be a third referee who can monitor the game on television and can make decisions.

“It is also important that the human element is taken out of decisions, technology should be used for offside decisions.”

And van Gaal says penalty shoot-outs should be a thing of the past.

“Penalties are a lottery,” said the Dutchman, who proposed that in extra time when the scores are level, a player is removed every five minutes from each team until a deciding goal is scored.

“It is important the better team wins, not the best individual player as with penalties.”

Van Gaal’s comments are notable, because, as he admits, technology would have ruled out Miroslav Klose’s goal in the first leg of the last-16 clash that gave his Bayern team a 2-1 advantage going to Italy.

“This is not good,” said ex-Holland coach van Gaal, who has stated that he would like to coach the German national side one day.

“Perhaps we will progress because of a wrong decision.”

France were another team to benefit from the absence of video technology recently, when Thierry Henry was able to set up the decisive goal in their World Cup play-off win over Ireland in November despite a blatant handball.

“It is not really fair that Ireland will not be represented at the World Cup, the technology must help the referee,” van Gaal said.