Soccer’s lawmaking panel has expanded the experimental use of two extra assistant referees into competitions including the Champions League from the upcoming season.
The use of officials behind the goals was tested in last season’s Europa League and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) said on Wednesday it will rule in 2012 whether they will be adopted permanently.
Adding to the traditional referee and two assistants is designed to help with difficult decisions, such as whether the ball has crossed the line for a goal.
The continued experiment means any decision on the use of goal-line video technology may be postponed further.
The debate on goal-line technology was rekindled at the World Cup last month when England were denied a goal against Germany because officials failed to see that a shot by Frank Lampard crossed the line after bouncing down from the crossbar. Had the goal been awarded, the score would have been 2-2 after 38 minutes. Instead, Germany went on to win the round-of-16 match 4-1.
It happened again this week at FIFA’s women’s under-20 World Cup in Germany.
A shot from France’s Lea Rubio struck the bar, bounced over the line and spun back into play, but English referee Alexandra Ihringova waved away claims for a goal. Germany again won 4-1. The official match report did not mention the incident.
“Technology is the cure. It’s going to happen. You’ve got to have goal-line technology. It’s a must,” Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp said at a press conference on Wednesday ahead of a pre-season friendly against the New York Red Bulls. “I went to watch games last year and even with the guy behind the goal, they still got it wrong. In the end, I think it’s too many cooks. I don’t think that’s a great idea, but the technology I’ve been saying for years is something that has to happen. It’s in every sport — certainly in England.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
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