Champions League will use extra referees

Published on Wednesday 21 July 2010 15:16

THE additional assistant referees system experimented with in last season's Europa League will be used in the Champions League this year.

The decision was ratified at yesterday's meeting in Cardiff of the technical sub-committee of the International Football Association Board, football's rule-makers, where it was also confirmed the issue of goal-line technology would be discussed in October.

The system of extra officials will be used in the Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup this season, as well as a handful of other competitions around the world after IFAB opened the experiment up to confederations outside of Europe. The experiment is due to continue until 2012.

That technology was not discussed yesterday will be a disappointment, though not a surprise, to many.

IFAB, which comprises representatives from Fifa and the four home nations, rejected the notion of goal-line technology in March on the grounds of cost and the possible disruption it would bring.

However, calls for the introduction of technology intensified after England's Frank Lampard was denied what would have been an equaliser in the World Cup second round clash with Germany when his shot rebounded off the underside of the crossbar and dropped over the line. It was unseen by the match officials and was not given.

Speaking in Johannesburg last month, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said: "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."

However, the issue was never on the agenda for yesterday and a statement from Fifa confirmed a date had been set for discussions.

"Fifa and the technical sub-committee confirmed that goal-line technology will be on the agenda of the next annual business meeting of the IFAB in October 2010," it read.