FIFA set out its aims for its experimental video review system -- "not perfect, but good enough to avoid game-changing referee mistakes at the World Cup" -- ahead of live trials at the Confederations Cup starting on Saturday, according to Graham Dunbar of the AP. FIFA Head of Refereeing Massimo Busacca said that the technology should help referees "to eliminate a clear scandal in football, the mistake that after many years you still remember." FIFA wants video review approved next year for the World Cup to "help decide key incidents: goals scored, penalty awards, red cards and cases of mistaken identity." FIFA will use the Confederations Cup to "stress themes it wants to be more widely accepted in one year's time, including more actual playing time." FIFA Technical Dir Marco Van Basten said that referees must add more stoppage time for excessive goal celebrations and "time-wasting" by goalkeepers, because "the audience wants to see action" (AP, 6/15).
GUILTY PLEA: REUTERS' Brendan Pierson reported a former banker at Julius Baer and Credit Suisse pleaded guilty on Thursday to a "U.S. money laundering conspiracy charge in connection with a wide-ranging corruption probe" of FIFA. Jorge Arzuaga, 56, of Argentina, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in the Brooklyn, N.Y., federal court. Prosecutors accused him of helping funnel kickbacks and bribe payments to a football official in the Americas (REUTERS, 6/15).
NO-GO: RADIO NEW ZEALAND reported the New Zealand All Whites said that FIFA regulations "are the reason" why they will not be seeing the haka at the upcoming Confederations Cup tournament. New Zealand will play Russia at St. Petersburg's Krestovsky Stadium on Sunday (RNZ, 6/15).
