Football's rule-makers "are discussing whether to approve trials of video replays to assist referees who find it harder to keep up with the faster, modern game," according to the AP.
The Int'l FA Board first approved technology in '12 "that was limited to systems determining whether the ball crossed the goal-line."
But the FIFA-dominated panel "met on Thursday in London to decide whether to allow the first official in-game tests with video replay systems that could, for example, help to inform referees on whether a penalty should be awarded, a player should be sent off, or consider violent conduct they might have missed." FA CEO Martin Glenn said it is "physically harder for referees to keep up," and high-tech assistance is "proving essential." Ahead of the IFAB meeting, Glenn said, "It's trying to get consensus on how we can best use technology to help referees." The Dutch federation "has been testing technology where officials watching on television could feed live information to referees." As an IFAB member, England "is keen to host trials, having tested goal-line technology during a friendly in 2012 at Wembley Stadium." FIFA "controls half of the eight votes on IFAB," which also features four U.K. FAs. A motion requires "at least six votes to be approved" (AP, 1/7).
