Backtracking? Could FIFA president Sepp Blatter
(front) and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini be heading for an
about turn?
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has apologised to England over Frank
Lampard's disallowed 'goal' and revealed they will again look at
goal-line technology.
Lampard's effort during England's 4-1 defeat to Germany was
ruled out even though the ball clearly crossed the line and has led
to renewed calls for the introduction of technology.
Blatter told a media briefing in Johannesburg: 'It is obvious
that after the experience so far in this World Cup it would be a
nonsense to not reopen the file of technology at the business
meeting of the International FA Board in July.
'Personally I deplore it when you see evident referee mistakes
but it's not the end of a competition or the end of football, this
can happen.
'The only thing I can do is yesterday I have spoken to the two
federations [England and Mexico] directly concerned by referees
mistakes. I have expressed to them apologies and I understand they
are not happy and that people are criticising.
'We will naturally take on board the discussion on technology
and have first opportunity in July at the business meeting.'
No debate: Germany keeper Mannuel Neuer sprawls as
Frank Lampard's deft chip hits the bar - and goes over the
goal-line
Sunday night's match between Argentina and Mexico had also
thrown up a controversial incident, with Carlos Tevez scoring the
opening goal from a blatantly offside position.
FIFA had blocked any further experiments with technology at a
meeting of the International FA Board, the game's rule-making body,
in March.
Blatter added: 'It happened in 1966 and then 44 years later -
though it was not quite the same.
'I apologised to England and Mexico. The English said 'thank you
and accepted that you can win [some] and you lose [some], and the
Mexicans bowed their head and accepted it.'
Mexicans rave: Carlos Tevez puts Argentina ahead
from an offside position
South African police have arrested a British journalist for
helping a fan gain access to the England dressing room after a
World Cup soccer match.
Sunday Mirror reporter Simon Wright was arrested in Cape Town on
Monday after closed circuit television footage indicated
he helped Pavlos Joseph get into the dressing room after their draw
with Algeria.
'The police have reason to believe this incident was
orchestrated,' said , national police commissioner Bheki Cele. 'The
police believe the motive was to put the World Cup security in a
bad light and possibly to profit from it.'
The FIFA president added that the IFAB would only look again at
goal-line technology and not video replays.
Blatter said: 'The only principle we are going to bring back for
discussion is goal-line technology.
'Football is a game that never stops and the moment there was a
discussion if the ball was in or out, or there was a goal-scoring
opportunity, do we give a possibility to a team to call for replays
once or twice like in tennis?
'For situations like the Mexico game you don't need
technology.'
Blatter added that FIFA would launch a new drive to improve
refereeing standards at the top level later this year.
'We will come out with a new model in November on how to improve
high level referees,' he added. 'We will start with a new concept
of how to improve match control. I cannot disclose more of what we
are doing but something has to be changed.'
