Dyke keen for video trials in UK

[Laudbertz 0]

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke says he is keen to conduct video technology trials.

 

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has tested the use of replays to help a referee via a headset, and wanted to extend its use to competitive matches.

 

But a meeting of football's lawmakers this week put back such trials in official matches by at least 12 months.

 

"I would very much like to do a pilot in the UK," Dyke told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme.

 

However, he added: "[World governing body] Fifa can stop us doing a pilot in the UK."

 

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is football's ultimate rule-making body and made its decision just before Sunderland defender Wes Brown's controversial dismissal in Saturday's defeat by Manchester United.

 

Television pictures suggested the foul on United striker Radamel Falcao appeared to have been made by Brown's Black Cats team-mate John O'Shea.

 

However, referees' body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) issued a statement saying referee Roger East thought Brown had fouled Falcao.

 

"I can understand that everybody thinks we should not rush into change and that we should do it slowly, which I think does make sense, but you have got to do pilots to see what does work and what doesn't," said Dyke.

 

Asked about Brown's red card, the FA chairman added: "If you could help that referee with video technology, then you should.

 

"We see these figures and they tend to suggest they are not having a bad season but obviously there are still mistakes inevitably and they get highlighted. That's life."

 

Former referees' chief Keith Hackett criticised the decision of IFAB and says ex-referee Howard Webb should to come out of retirement to help improve the standard of officiating.

 

Webb retired in August 2014 to become the technical director of PGMOL, which is headed up by Mike Riley.

 

"Referees are making big mistakes, week in, week out. They need some leadership and with that leadership the guy who is at the top needs to front up," Hackett told Sportsweek.

 

"He should be encouraging Howard Webb to come back into the game as a referee. I don't know what Howard is doing behind the scenes with the referees."

 

On East's decision, he added: "I think it was another error in refereeing that we've seen, we're seeing it pretty often."

 

Personally, i'd like to see video trials come into effect sooner rather than later. It may cause a few more stoppages than we see now but it would make for a much fairer playing field (for lack of a better phrase!).

[Ser Barristan Selmy 222]

I was deeply concerned you might be being politically incorrect there.

[Laudbertz 0]

I was deeply concerned you might be being politically incorrect there.

 

Haha, it is a rather unfortunate surname!