THE 2010 World Cup could change the laws of the game, Fifa announced in Johannesburg yesterday.
THE 2010 World Cup could change the laws of the game, Fifa announced in Johannesburg yesterday.
The world football governing-body confirmed that it would consider introducing an extra match referee.
The use of television technology in soccer matches will also be discussed to determine issues like whether the ball has crossed the goal line or not.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said Thierry Henry's handball in France's game against Ireland two weeks ago had once more shown that match officials need more help on the field.
Fifa's executive committee will discuss the issue of introducing an additional match official at a special meeting in Cape Town tomorrow. If Fifa decide to support it, the proposal will be discussed in Zurich in March.
"We are experimenting with it at club level in the Europa League (UEFA using five officials, one standing at each end of the field to help referees settle disputes). The results so far have been positive," Blatter said. "The highest crime in football is where people use their hands. There is also diving and pulling of shirts.
"There is a lack of discipline and respect in the game by the players. They are cheating. They are trying to get advantage and this is not good.
"We have only one man on the field of play who shall intervene. He has two assistants for the time being, perhaps more in the future," said Blatter, who urged officials to come down hard on cheating players.
The Fifa president said he was not in favour of using television technology to settle disputes: "With technology, you have to stop the match. You have to look at cameras.
"We have to maintain the human face of football and not go into technology."
Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has said the use of TV technology in soccer was long overdue.
stop cheats, urges fifa
THE 2010 World Cup could change the laws of the game, Fifa announced in Johannesburg yesterday.
THE 2010 World Cup could change the laws of the game, Fifa announced in Johannesburg yesterday.
The world football governing-body confirmed that it would consider introducing an extra match referee.
The use of television technology in soccer matches will also be discussed to determine issues like whether the ball has crossed the goal line or not.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said Thierry Henry's handball in France's game against Ireland two weeks ago had once more shown that match officials need more help on the field.
Fifa's executive committee will discuss the issue of introducing an additional match official at a special meeting in Cape Town tomorrow. If Fifa decide to support it, the proposal will be discussed in Zurich in March.
"We are experimenting with it at club level in the Europa League (UEFA using five officials, one standing at each end of the field to help referees settle disputes). The results so far have been positive," Blatter said. "The highest crime in football is where people use their hands. There is also diving and pulling of shirts.
"There is a lack of discipline and respect in the game by the players. They are cheating. They are trying to get advantage and this is not good.
"We have only one man on the field of play who shall intervene. He has two assistants for the time being, perhaps more in the future," said Blatter, who urged officials to come down hard on cheating players.
The Fifa president said he was not in favour of using television technology to settle disputes: "With technology, you have to stop the match. You have to look at cameras.
"We have to maintain the human face of football and not go into technology."
Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has said the use of TV technology in soccer was long overdue.