Geneva - World football's governing body is ready to try out new refereeing teams involving four linesmen this summer, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said in an interview published on Tuesday. </p> Blatter told the Swiss weekly L'Illustre that he and Uefa president Michel Platini were thinking of introducing two extra "linesmen", who would have whistles and the power to intervene directly from the touchline alongside the referee. </p> "Two of them would have flags to signal offside, like today. The two others would intervene directly in the game, with a whistle," Blatter said. </p> "It will be tested this summer and if it gives the results we're expecting, it could come into force swiftly," he added. </p> Blatter said the system would allow match officials to have more of the field of play under watch at any one time. </p> But he ruled out the idea of a second referee, saying there was considerable resistance from referees, "who think they are prima-donnas, especially in Italy". </p> The 71 year-old world soccer chief gave no further details on the plans. </p> Blatter said recent trials had merely reinforced his opposition to the use of video evidence during matches. </p> </p> good or bad? Discuss(blagger) <!-- [*]News24 is now available on your cellphone.</p> --></p>
the game works through over a century of development, football just about works. but once again we see that there is an office block full of people at FIFA who have to justify their jobs, meaning we get the daft offside rule and other bits of nonsense. this is just another example of FIFA meddling for the sake of it.
