Europa League to feature five refs
Reuters - Tuesday 15 September 2009, 02:00
ZURICH - Football will undergo one of its
most radical changes this week when the Europa League's group
stage kicks off with five-man refereeing teams.
The rebranded UEFA Cup competition is to feature an
additional assistant referee beside each goal to help judge
whether players have dived in the penalty box and committed
fouls at set-pieces, and also determine if the ball has crossed
the goal-line.
The system will be unveiled at 24 matches on Thursday with
high-profile teams like Ajax Amsterdam, Valencia, AS Roma,
Panathinaikos, PSV Eindhoven and Sporting Lisbon involved.
Officials are hoping it can drastically reduce the number of
refereeing mistakes - often cruelly exposed by television
replays - without using video technology.
UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA counterpart Sepp
Blatter are firmly opposed to technology, with the exception of
microphones and headsets used by match officials to communicate
with each other.
"Things have not improved in refereeing for more than 100
years. I am against video technology because that will take the
human face away from the game but this system will help the
referee make the right decision," Platini said last month.
"It could be the most significant change in the way the game
is officiated for over 100 years."
The last major rule change came in 1992 when goalkeepers
were banned from handling back passes following an outcry over
negative play at the World Cup in Italy two years earlier.
BRAZILIAN EXPERIMENT
Nine years ago a low-key experiment was carried out in
Brazil's Paulista championship where two match referees - one
in each half of the field - took charge of games, each with
equal responsibility.
However, soccer's governing body FIFA decided against
adopting it.
The latest experiment was first tried in selected UEFA
under-19 tournaments last year.
In February, football's law-making body the International
Football Association Board (IFAB) said the experiment could
continue at professional level.
The additional assistant referees will be positioned on the
opposite side of the goal to the nearest linesman but will not
have flags.
They will generally remain behind the goal but may enter the
penalty area to keep up with the action when play moves to the
other end of the pitch.
In the Europa League, they will be from the same country as
the three other officials.
Technical experts appointed by the IFAB will monitor the
referees' performances to assess the new system and determine
whether they enhance their control of the match.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said during a recent
coaching forum the extra officials would also help at counter
attacks.
"With the speed of the players today, it's impossible for
the referee to keep up," he said. "It's progress and progress is
important."