Foster cleared over iPod use at Wembley
Reuters - Monday 02 March 2009, 18:33
LONDON - The English FA will take no
action against Manchester United or goalkeeper Ben Foster for
using an iPod during Sunday's League Cup final against Tottenham
Hotspur, it said on Monday.
Foster watched videos of Spurs players taking penalties on
an iPod and then saved from Jamie O'Hara as United lifted the
cup after winning the penalty shootout 4-1 following their
goalless draw at Wembley Stadium.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has resisted the use of any form
of video technology, especially to determine if the ball has
crossed the goalline, for many years. But the idea of using an
iPod as a tactical aid is new and not against the laws of the
game.
Former Premier League referee Graham Poll told the Daily
Mail on Monday that using iPod technology "had the potential to
exploit a loophole in the laws which should be referred to
FIFA."
An FA spokesman said: "What happened was not against the
rules so we will not be investigating the matter further."
Spurs were last involved in a penalty shootout a year ago
when they lost to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Cup.
In that game, O'Hara fired a shot to the left of the
goalkeeper and on Sunday he sent Tottenham's first penalty the
same way and Foster saved.
"Just before the shootout I was looking at an iPod with
goalkeeping coach Eric Steele and it contained images of
Tottenham's players taking penalties," Foster said.
"They told me for Jamie O'Hara I should stand up and be
strong and he would probably go the way he did. I have done a
lot of research before but this is an innovation we have brought
in at the club."
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