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Wednesday, 10 February 2010

World News SFA to Revisit Video Issue

Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith is considering a fresh attempt to get video replays back on the agenda of the game's lawmakers.

The SFA tried last year to convince the International Football Association Board which governs the game's laws to introduce video technology, but the plans were not approved.

The issue is in the forefront again in the wake of Thierry Henry's now-infamous handball against the Republic of Ireland last week which cost the Irish a place in the World Cup finals and SFA chief Smith wants to see the introduction of a system which gives each manager two challenges per match.

Smith said on www.bbc.co.uk: "I don't think referees will be undermined. It will mean we get the right decision in matches.

"If the Irish had called for TV pictures - and the game had stopped anyway - the goal would have been disallowed and they could be going to the World Cup next summer instead of France.

"That's how vital it is to get these decisions right."

The next IFAB meeting is in March. The board is made up of the four home associations, who each have a vote, and FIFA, who have four votes.

Smith could bring a proposal under 'any other business'.

He said: "I would put forward a system where two challenges are allowed per game per technical area."

FIFA, however, could use the IFAB meeting to try to fast-track UEFA president Michel Platini's favoured system of having an extra assistant referee behind each goal-line so it can be used at next summer's World Cup.

Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association

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