SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Blatter says goal line technology will be on the table in October

Record ID: 455539

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Blatter says goal line technology will be on the table in October
  • Date: 9th July 2010
  • Summary: SLATE INFORMATION JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 08, 2010) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER, FIFA AND LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE OFFICIALS ARRIVING FOR PRESS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS WORKING ON COMPUTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "And it will be in October that we are going to discuss, with the International Football Association Board, the question of the goalline technology. And definitely later on, in a discussion with the specific technical group we have, we can take on such situations we have witnessed during this competition -- specifically, when you make an issue now -- on the player Suarez, on the goal line" REPORTERS WORKING WITH COMPUTERS SOUNDBITE (English) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "The statistics have shown, that there are less injuries, this is very important. There are also less yellow and red cards. But less injuries" REPORTER IN PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (English) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "Five hundred tests before the competition and so far two hundred and forty tests in competition, and we have independent observers, and I can tell you all is negative." CAMERAMAN FILMING SOUNDBITE (English) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "But if he can come to the stadium, it will be good. If he can stay the whole competition, all final, I do not know, but definitely, would he be there, then really, naturally, he has had this trophy in his hands when he was in June in Zurich, 2004. And it would be wonderful moment for him, for football and for Africa" WIDE OF REPORTERS LISTENING PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (English) FIFA SECRETARY GENERAL, JEROME VALCKE SAYING: "FIFA is not to indemnify people who have not been able to fly to Durban, because it is not our responsibility. I mean what has happened, on and at the airport, is coming from the air traffic control, and they made the decision" CAMERAMEN FILMING PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (English) FIFA SECRETARY GENERAL, JEROME VALCKE SAYING: "And we avoid the movement of the fans and teams during the first forty eight matches, just to make sure that fans do not to travel more than one or two hours to go from one stadium to the other. And definitely we already worked on it and count this issue." WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8OVBYW6CAVE309T7EI0IXA61B
  • Story Text: The refereeing system will change for the next World Cup with goalline technology and extra officials being considered, FIFA said on Thursday (July 8).
    FIFA's past resistance to change appears to be shifting after some wrong calls in the World Cup, most notably Frank Lampard's disallowed effort for England against Germany that crossed the goalline, and Carlos Tevez's offside goal for Argentina versus Mexico.
    "It will be in October that we are going to discuss, with the International Football Association Board, the question of the goal line technology. And definitely later on, in a discussion with the specific technical group we have, we can take on such situations we have witnessed during this competition," FIFA President Sepp Blatter told reporters.
    Tevez's goal was replayed on stadium big screens, heightening fury among Mexican players and fans.
    The use of two extra linesmen to check the goalline and penalty area was trialled in the Europa League last season and is to be used in the upcoming Champions League, from the final qualifying round, and Euro 2012 qualifiers.
    Blatter has apologised for the mistakes in South Africa and said it would be a "nonsense" not to look again at the merits of goalline technology such as the Hawk-Eye system used in tennis and cricket.
    The FIFA official said soccer's lawmaking body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), was unlikely to hold serious discussions on the matter at their next meeting later this month, but rather when they sit again in October.
    Blatter also expressed hope that former South African president Nelson Mandela would be present at Sunday's final between Spain and Netherlands.
    "If he can come to the stadium, it will be good," he said. "Whether he can stay for the whole final, I do not know.
    "He has had the trophy in his hands in Zurich in 2004 and it would be a wonderful moment for him, for football, for Africa, if this could be a possibility."
    Despite a tournament marred by some play-acting and occasional refereeing controversies, Blatter praised the behaviour of the players.
    "The fair play of the players is a compliment to the teams and coaches because the statistics have shown that there are less injuries and this is very important, there have been less yellow and red cards, the players have been respectful to their opponents.
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