The head of football's world governing body, FIFA, Sepp Blatter has apologised for the refereeing mistakes in the ongoing World Cup 2010 tournament in South Africa and hinted that the sport's rule makers will discuss video replays when they meet next month - "It would be a nonsense to not reopen the file of technology."
Sepp Blatter / President FIFA
There are some of the quoted words when briefing the media Tuesday June 29, 2010, in Johannesburg:
- "Concerning the International Football Association Board, naturally they will take on again the discussion on technology."
- "They will have a first opportunity when the business meeting of the Board of July is meeting in Wales."
- "We will start with a new concept, how to improve match control in high-level competition."
- "We are going forward and we will come out at the end of October, beginning of November, with this new approach because something has to be changed."
- "After having witnessed such a situation..." "...we have to open again this file, definitely."
He said the current system could not be changed during this World Cup.
Blatter witnessed mistakes on Sunday between England and Germany and between Argentina and Mexico.
In the first match, England's goal from Frank Lampard would have tied the score at 2-all before half-time, but officials did not see his shot bounce across the goal line and rebound out after hitting under the crossbar. The score remained 2-1 and Germany went on to win 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.
- "Concerning the International Football Association Board, naturally they will take on again the discussion on technology."
- "They will have a first opportunity when the business meeting of the Board of July is meeting in Wales."
- "We will start with a new concept, how to improve match control in high-level competition."
- "We are going forward and we will come out at the end of October, beginning of November, with this new approach because something has to be changed."
- "After having witnessed such a situation..." "...we have to open again this file, definitely."
He said the current system could not be changed during this World Cup.
Blatter witnessed mistakes on Sunday between England and Germany and between Argentina and Mexico.
In the first match, England's goal from Frank Lampard would have tied the score at 2-all before half-time, but officials did not see his shot bounce across the goal line and rebound out after hitting under the crossbar. The score remained 2-1 and Germany went on to win 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Frank Lampard's disallowed goal
In the second match, officials missed a clear offside against Argentina's Carlos Tevez whose header gave his team an early 1-0 lead over Mexico. The Argentines won 3-1 and also advanced.
Carlos Tevez's offside goal
Football fans and analysts for years have called for the introduction of video replays to allow referees to review controversial calls. Others have called for adding more officials to the one referee and two linesmen currently in use. But Blatter and many in the football governing hierarchy have opposed such changes, saying they halt the free-flowing movement of the game and do not eliminate all mistakes.
In 2008, Blatter said soccer should be left with errors and that officiating should be left to "a man, not a machine", but in 2010, he has said "It would be a nonsense to not reopen the file of technology."
In 2008, Blatter said soccer should be left with errors and that officiating should be left to "a man, not a machine", but in 2010, he has said "It would be a nonsense to not reopen the file of technology."
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