FIFA president Sepp Blatter today
all but ruled out the introduction of video replays saying he would
never allow matches to be halted as long as he remained the most
powerful figure in world football.
Blatter said instant goal-line technology could be used within a
year - either by means of a ball with a microchip or a
behind-the-goal camera linked to a computer - but he would never
permit other controversial decisions being analysed the same
way.
Revealing that goal-line technology would be ready for introduction
at the Club World Championship in Tokyo in December, 2007,
following further experimentation, Blatter added: 'I am only
talking about goal-line technology here.
'We have to help referees and have correct control but we must
never stop the match with videos or monitors to look at what has
happened.'
Blatter's remarks will be a major blow to the Premier League who
are lobbying FIFA to consider using video technology, supported by
a large majority of top-flight managers and coaches following a
spate of highly contentious refereeing decisions.
The International FA Board, the game's lawmakers, meet next March
in Manchester but Blatter made it clear they will more than likely
reject all calls for video replays.
'It would take away the spontaneity and fascination of our game, we
must keep football with a human face,' said Blatter.
'As long I am president, it will only be goal-line technology.
Until I am no longer president, there will be no chance (for video
replays).'
Blatter also repeated his call for Europe's richest clubs to stop
buying up all the top talent and urged them to leave the field open
for less affluent rivals.
FIFA is pressing ahead with a proposal to implement a so-called '6
plus 5' system whereby half of a club's starting eleven must be
home-grown.
'We believe 6 plus 5 will give more incentive to young players,'
said Blatter.
'All the big clubs have youth departments but there is no chance
for these players to play in the first team.'
Without mentioning any English clubs by name, Blatter referred to
what he described as a 'traffic jam' of foreign players in
Europe.
'The big clubs with a lot of money can afford to buy the best
players. They have 20, 25, sometimes 30 on their list but only 11
can play. What are the others doing? Waiting? Recuperating? Or
taking away the chance for other teams to have a better starting
eleven?
'What these rich clubs are doing is taking the best out of market,
then not letting them play.
'Look at the results in some European leagues. Some clubs are
already far away after a third of the season, the others can only
play to avoid relegation, not for the title. Something is wrong
about this.'
Again without specifying who he was referring to, Blatter also
criticised the increasing trend of foreign investors buying up
English clubs.
'England must be a very attractive league for investors to take
over whole clubs. As long as they are promoting the game in a
sensitive way, we are not concerned.
'But if they are arriving to take the best out of football, rather
than to serve it, again something is wrong because when you have so
much money, it leads to a distortion as far as the other clubs are
concerned.'
i think video replays are really needed
in modern football just like the goal line technology.It is very
wrong to rule it out as it can be used on important decision rather
than every decision thus it will not stop the game so often and the
game will still flow
