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“Sweden want refs to see replays”

05 Aug 2010

The Swedish Football Association look like they could be the first to do what many mangers, players and pundits have been calling for and implement some form of technology into the game to help referees.

A number of incidents at this summer's World Cup - most notably the goal that wasn't by England's Frank Lampard against Germany - showed that technology should be used in the game and the Swedish FA does not want such incidents to happen again, at least domestically. It could also be good news for those interested in football betting as it will ensure correct decisions are made.

UEFA recently announced that it would be using extra officials in Champions League games and also 2012 European Championship qualifiers, but refrained from discussing issues such as goal-line technology.

The organisation claims it would discuss the issue at its next meeting in October, but the Swedish FA are moving quicker and want to use experiment using television replays to help referees make difficult decisions.

Its chairman Lars-Ake Lagrell has presented the idea of officials watching TV replays that viewers at home could see to some of the top clubs in Sweden and wants to take the idea to Fifa in order for them to trial it providing the clubs agree.

Lagrell said: "We don't think we will ever have them [goal-line cameras] in football as it means too many breaks in play, studying film and so on. We think goal-line technology is a worse alternative than simply giving the fourth official the chance to look at the TV pictures.

"With that you have a team of officials who referee the game exactly as it is today, but this way they get something to help them."

The UEFA experiment in the Champions League is set to be implemented in the coming weeks when the play-offs get underway and is scheduled to continue until 2012.