Within the next 12 months FIFA will allow managers to challenge decisions made by the referee.
This could get very interesting.
Calls for this kind of technology have been in place for many years, and with FIFA bringing in goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup and across the Premier League last season, they will now trial a TV referral system which will give managers the chance to formally question decisions for the first-time.
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Blatter confirmed that the trial will take place within the next year and the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand could see the system arrive for the first time.
Here is what the current FIFA President had to say, as Blatter spoke to the SoccerEx conference in Manchester, England on Monday.
“They have the right in the half, twice or once, to challenge a refereeing decision but only when the game is stopped,” Blatter said. “Then, there must be a television monitor but by the television company and not by another referee. And then the referee and the coach, they will go then to look, and then the referee may change his mind, as it is the case in tennis, for instance. It can only be done where there is television coverage of all the matches. Or in one Fifa competition, we can try in a youth competition, an Under-20, like next year when we are in New Zealand.”
With the role of technology in soccer always a touch subject, it seems as though Blatter is taking the right step here by at least sanctioning a trial period to see how this works.
As we are used to seeing in the NFL, will managers be given a red flag to throw on the field and challenge a play? Or will everything be done via the fourth official who will have the TV monitor nearby the two benches?
All these questions have yet to be answered but the role of the TV referral system will become a lot clearer in the coming weeks and months.
Get ready for Jose Mourinho to be chucking out flags galore in every single game…
