Video Soccer 'Referee' Rejected

A highly controversial decision against using video replay technology to aid officials in making referee calls in soccer games has surprised the technological sector.
While various instant replay 'touchline' systems are available, a decision this month by the board of the International Football Association Board, (IFA) the rules-making body of FIFA, went against using technology-based 'referees'.
Goal-line technology had come back on the agenda following pressure to look at other systems following Thierry Henry's handball in the World Cup play-off for France against the Republic of Ireland.
The decision was not made because of the two experimental systems being developed by Hawk-Eye and German firm Cairos but based on the principle of not using technology in football.
FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke said: "The door is closed. The decision was not to go ahead with technology at all.
"Technology should not enter into the game, It was a clear, clear statement made by the majority of the IFAB.
"They are saying why should we have technology in a game where the main part should be humans - players and referees.
"Whatever are the mistakes - and yes there are mistakes - and people will review the match and discuss what happened but there was a clear statement that technology should not enter in the game.
"If we start with goal-line technology then any part of the game and pitch will be a potential space where you could put in place technology to see if the ball was in or out, whether it was a penalty and then you end up with video replays.
"Let's keep the game of football as it is."
(BMcC/GK)