Soccer's governing body is not ready to use two referees on the pitch at the World Cup.
Match officials have come under heavy scrutiny amid the record number of red and yellow cards being issued and a spate of questionable decisions at the World Cup.
Instant TV replays have been ruled out and the introduction of other technology to determine when the ball crosses the goal line has been put on hold, for now, because it is not 100 percent reliable.
FIFA communications director Markus Siegler said trials using two referees in tandem had been undertaken, but it was "not the right path to follow" right now.
"We've carried out tests in the Italian league and cup matches," he told a news conference on Tuesday. "At the moment, it's not an actuality."
The International Football Association Board, which governs the rules of the game, would have to make the decision and any submission would have to be formally made by a national association, Siegler said.
In the meantime, referees, two linesmen and a fourth official communicate via open microphones and headsets.
After 55 of 64 matches at Germany 2006, referees had handed out 25 red cards and 306 yellow cards, both World Cup records.
Russian referee Valentin Ivanov was criticized by FIFA president Sepp Blatter for giving 16 cautions and ejecting four players in Portugal's 1-0 win over Netherlands -- records for a World Cup match.
The FIFA referees committee met yesterday to determine which of the 22 referees will remain after the second round. The list is unlikely to be released before committee head Angel Maria Villar Llona faces a news conference today.
"We don't want this event to be a public tribunal," said Siegler, declining to make any comment about the referees or referee decisions. "It's certainly not that you wish it's dominating the discussion."
The controversy is not harming the TV ratings or keeping the crowds away.
FIFA's TV rights partner, Infront, estimates an accumulated TV audience exceeding 30 billion across the tournament.
Infront managing director Dominik Schmid said about 40 percent of the viewing audience was female, something he could only attribute to "a World Cup phenomenon."
All but one of FIFA's 207 affiliated members had negotiated broadcasting deals with only Turkmenistan, the former Soviet republic of 6 million, not taking official live television pictures.
He said ratings records were being broken even in countries which did not qualify.
Schmid highlighted England's first-round match against Paraguay which had 62.9 million viewers in China -- more than the combined populations of both participating countries.
With crowds at venues at capacity, more than 11 million people have turned to "Fan Zones" in downtown areas of the 12 German cities hosting matches to watch on giant TV screens.
"We're living the biggest football party ever," Siegler said of the popularity of the Fan Zones. "Our expectations have been surpassed."
France’s Kevin Aymoz snatched the men’s title at Skate America on Saturday, winning his first grand prix title with a battling free skate, while short program leader Kazuki Tomono faltered. It was an emotional triumph for Aymoz, who made his grand prix level debut in 2017, with seven prior podium finishes, but no gold. He had struggled with a painful foot injury since a disappointing 10th-place finish at Skate Canada last month. “It was so difficult,” the 28-year-old said. “After Skate Canada I wanted to give up so much and today I’m here and it’s so beautiful to be with my friends competing
A start-up’s entry into prediction market trading is raising fresh questions about the involvement of NBA owners in sports betting. The start-up, Mojo Interactive Inc, was cofounded by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, the owners of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Lynx. Mojo has started trading on the outcome of sports games on the prediction market exchange Kalshi, an arrangement that is now being reviewed by the NBA. Mojo began trading event contracts tied to sports during the NFL season this fall, according to Mojo CEO Vinit Bharara. Mojo has yet to trade on any NBA games, Bharara said in
PORTUGAL LOSE: Ronaldo was sent off in their defeat for elbowing an Ireland player, while England, who are already qualified, defeated Serbia 2-0 to stay perfect Kylian Mbappe and France on Thursday booked a berth at next year’s FIFA World Cup, but Cristiano Ronaldo might be banned from Portugal’s first game there if his team finally win their European qualifying group. Two goals from star striker Mbappe helped two-time champions France to qualify with a 4-0 home win against Ukraine, but Ronaldo was ejected for the first time in his international career and Portugal have to wait until tomorrow to secure a qualifying spot for the seventh straight time after they were stunned 2-0 by Ireland in Dublin. Midfielder Michael Olise and substitute forward Hugo Ekitike added the
Nigeria’s soccer coach has accused the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) of practicing “voodoo” after his squad’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s FIFA World Cup ended in a penalty shoot-out loss in the African playoff final. DR Congo and Nigeria drew 1-1 after extra-time in the tie in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday and the central Africans won 4-3 on penalties to book a place in inter-confederation playoffs in Mexico in March next year. In his post-match remarks to journalists, coach Eric Chelle said a member of the DR Congo team “did some voodoo, every time, every time, every time.” “That
RSS