Blatter hints at opening on video replays

January 24, 2010

World football chief Sepp Blatter said in a newspaper interview on Sunday that he might consider video assistance for referees in the future.

The president of world football’s governing body FIFA has staunchly opposed the use of video replays as a refereeing aid because they would interrupt the flow of the game.

But he told the Swiss newspaper Sonntagsblick that he might consider them after other technology has been approved.

“I’m not completely against it. But only when goal line technology is ready to be introduced, only then,” he said.

The guardian of football’s rules, the International Football Association Board, is due to discuss electronic goal line technology, including computer chips in balls and goalmouth cameras, at its meeting in March.

Blatter again ruled out the introduction of such aids in South Africa this summer.

“We won’t carry out any experiments there, not even with two extra referees,” he added.

Two additional assistant referees are being lined up in Europa League matches this season in a trial aimed at improving surveillance of incidents in penalty box.

In December, FIFA’s executive committee also ruled out the introduction of video technology to assist referees similar to the system used in rugby, cricket and tennis.

Pressure for refereeing aids surged again with the furore that followed Thierry Henry’s blatant handball in a World Cup playoff against Ireland in November that saw France qualify for the finals.

GENEVA (AFP)

Tags: aids in south africa, assistant referees, body fifa, computer chips, executive committee, football chief, France, geneva, goal line, handball, including computer, international football association, Ireland, line technology, penalty box, Sepp Blatter, South Africa, thierry henry, video assistance, video technology, world football

UPDATE: Ireland plead for World Cup slot as the 33rd team

December 1, 2009

Sepp Blatter revealed this morning that Ireland have appealed to FIFA to be allowed to compete as a 33rd team in next year’s World Cup.

“I will bring it to the attention of the Executive Committee,” Blatter told (stunned) journos. “I cannot confirm what will happen, but I will report it.”

I cannot confirm what will happen either, but I have a pretty good idea. In any case, aren’t the referees the 33rd team? Or if not, what about our idea here at Reuters Soccer Blog to put together a squad of players whose teams failed to make it.

We’d give Shay Given and Robbie Keane places…

Here’s Mike Collett’s view having heard Blatter speak in Johannesburg:

FIFA president Sepp Blatter greeted a delegation of very disgruntled Irishmen on Friday. FA of Ireland officials went to Zurich to have a little chat about the upcoming World Cup finals they will not be taking part in.

As the whole of the soccer world knows, Thierry Henry’s infamous handball in the build-up to France’s goal meant the French drew 1-1 with Ireland on the night and sealed a 2-1 aggregate playoff victory earlier this month. France in. Ireland out. Fair Play kicked into touch.

The Irish delegation came up with the intriguing notion of being admitted to the finals in South Africa as the 33rd team — and even more intriguingly, Blatter will put the idea forward to the FIFA Executive Committee when they meet in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The Irish, and everyone else, know full well that their audacious suggestion has no real hope of being accepted. For a start extra matches would have to be organised, one group would consist of five teams not four — but more importantly it would set a precedent that would leave the world of soccer in some considerable confusion.

But the Irish delegation also discussed some other issues with FIFA — including additional officials to help the referee, use of video technology for matches at the highest level and stronger punishments for cheats among them.

Not much good came out of Henry’s handball for the Irish — but something good might have come out of it for the game at large.

If FIFA does sanction extra officials for the World Cup to help the referee make the right call, if players think twice about their behaviour in the penalty area, the game can only benefit.

A UEFA experiment with additional officials has been conducted in the Europa League this season — if Henry’s handball and the efforts of the Irish delegation can persuade FIFA to now introduce the idea on a permanent basis, then the type of defeat Ireland suffered may become far rarer in the future.

That would be one small step for soccer, even though, unfortunately for the Irish, there will surely still only be 32 teams in South Arica next year.

PHOTO: FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrives at a news conference in Mexico City November 9, 2009. REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar

Source

Tags: cape town, Daniel Aguilar, fair play, fifa executive committee, fifa president sepp blatter, intriguing notion, Ireland, irish delegation, irishmen, johannesburg, mexico city, Mike Collett, punishments, referees, reuters, Robbie Keane, Sepp Blatter, shay, soccer world, South Arica, thierry henry, video technology, world cup finals, world of soccer

Fergie backs video scheme after Henry handball row

November 20, 2009

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits he would like to see video technology used to clear up controversial decisions — but cannot see the sport’s governing bodies adopting any new schemes in the near future.

The issue over whether football should embrace the technology available was re-ignited on Wednesday night when France’s Thierry Henry used his hand to control the ball before crossing for William Gallas to score the goal that ended Ireland’s chances of going to the World Cup.

There have been calls for the match to be replayed while others believe referees need to be able to rely on video evidence to ensure they get such key decisions right.

It is a point Ferguson agrees with. But the Scot fears that all discussion on the issue is futile because world football’s governing body, FIFA, are simply not interested in revolutionising the role of the referee.

He said: “The stance is that they prefer human decision-making rather than technology decision-making and until they change their mind there is nothing you can do about it – you have to convince them, nobody else.

“It is not a matter of asking every player and manager in the world their opinion because they will all share the same one, as I do myself, that technology can play a part and can help referees in a situation like the other night.”

Gallas?s goal sent France to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a 2-1 aggregate victory while Ireland have been left counting the cost of some extreme misfortune.

Ferguson added: “My thoughts were with (Ireland coach) Giovanni Trapattoni. He prepared a team that put in an absolutely magnificent performance. You couldn’t ask for better from a coach but it was taken away from him.

“It happens and it’s denied a couple of our players the great experience of playing in the World Cup finals and you’ll never get a better experience than that.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: aggregate victory, alex ferguson, body fifa, fergie, governing bodies, governing body, human decision, magnificent performance, manchester england, manchester united, misfortune, sir alex ferguson, technology decision, thierry henry, video evidence, video technology, William Gallas, world cup finals, world football

FIFA dismiss Egypt penalty complaint

June 16, 2009

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AFP) – FIFA on Tuesday dismissed a complaint lodged by Egypt about a penalty decision by English referee Howard Webb that cost them their Confederations Cup match against Brazil.

“FIFA analysed the decision by going through all the evidence at its disposal, including the referee’s match report, as well as the additional statement that Howard Webb provided at FIFA’s request,” it said in a statement.

FIFA said their analysis showed the decision “was achieved through teamwork between the match referee and his assistant referee number one, Mike Mullarkey, who confirmed the offence to the referee from his clear viewing angle”.

The teams were locked at 3-3 when a spot kick was awarded in the dying minutes for a deliberate handball inside the penalty area by Ahmed al-Muhamadi, who blocked Lucio’s shot.

Kaka stepped up to convert it and hand Brazil victory.

Egypt deputy coach Shawky Gharib said the team was bemused after Webb initially gave a corner only for the decision to change, seemingly after the fourth official watched a video replay.

Using video technology is not allowed.

Tags: Ahmed, assistant referee, Bloemfontein, bloemfontein south africa, brazil, confederations cup, Egypt, FIFA, handball, lucio, match, Mike Mullarkey, mullarkey, offence, replay, shawky, South Africa, teamwork, victory, video technology, Webb, World Cup

Chelsea boss Hiddink pleads for video replay

May 10, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink, still reeling from his team’s stormy Champions League exit, wants video technology introduced to help referees make the right call in contentious decisions.

Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo turned down several strong appeals for Chelsea penalties during the 1-1 draw with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, a result which put the Spanish giants into the final.

“In other sports like rugby and American football they have the ability to use technology at vital moments,” said Hiddink.

“Everyone waits five seconds for the video referee before making a decision. It can be done only on key moments that make a difference to the outcome of the game otherwise it would stop the game too much.

“The video referee must have authority to overrule the first man in charge. It’s a fact that if technology had been in use we would be in the Champions League final now.

“It would help a lot what is a difficult job for the referee when they have to make crucial decisions. It’s up to UEFA whether they act.”