Comments on: FIFA scraps plans for goal-line technology in favour of additional linesmen

By: FairFootball

FairFootball — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:14:13 +0000

They’ll introduce 2 additional referees and won’t let them view replays ? Crazy. Well, probably it will be an improvement but let’s wait until a linesman will go wrong and the video footage will clearly show it. My bet is it will happen soon enough.

By: Phil McThomas

Phil McThomas — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:18:11 +0000

Steve – you already has the risk of inconsistency with the two linesmen. It’s balanced by switching the direction the teams play at half-time, but keeping the linesmen where they are. The same would happen with the additional assistants behind the goals.

The proposal is to add two extra assistants, not an additional referee, so only one person will be responsible for cautions.

You might be able to tell, I’m in favour of the move. In fact, I think it will be the best thing that has happened to football since the back-pass rule.

By: Steve Amoia

Steve Amoia — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:13:33 +0000

Andy:

A few weeks ago, Mr. Ian Blanchard, Head of National Referee Development and Training at the FA, had the following opinion during our interview:

“I am not supportive of additional referees or assistants in order to control a game. Can you imagine the uproar if one referee gives a foul and cautions as opposed to the other referee in the other half just giving a foul? In my opinion this would breed inconsistence and confusion. The same can be said for assistant referees. In one half you may have a very competent official whereas in the other half the assistant is not so good.”