Sorry Blatter to reconsider technology
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted that the widespread embarrassment caused by Frank Lampard’s wrongfully disallowed goal against Germany has forced the world governing body to reconsider its opposition to goal-line technology.
And in a further attempt to defuse the row, Blatter revealed that he had telephoned the Football Association to apologise for the colossal refereeing blunder that contributed to England’s fatal 4-1 defeat.
Fifa has repeatedly rejected calls to introduce video technology, despite its successful use in other sports, and just three months ago voted against its adoption.
But a contrite Blatter yesterday conceded Fifa had no choice but to re-evaluate its position at a meeting next month, although it will only examine the case for goal-line devices and not video replays of other controversial incidents.
“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,” said Blatter.
“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.
“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 and you lose, and the Mexicans bowed their head and accepted it.
“The only principle we are going to bring back for discussion is goal-line technology.”
Meanwhile, Jorge Larrionda, the Uruguyan referee who missed Lampard’s goal, has been sent home.