Uefa Backs Penalty Box Officials

[Bandicoot 3]

Uefa are to trial the use of two extra assistant referees in the penalty area at both free-kicks and corners as an alternative to goal-line technology.

The idea of Uefa boss Michel Platini is to be trialled at youth tournaments.

"The game's a lot faster now, it's hard to keep up with play all the time," said Uefa spokesman William Gaillard.

The experiment will include using the assistants both behind the goal-line and inside the penalty box as extra eyes and ears for the referee.

"We have the go-ahead from the International FA Board to conduct trials on this and we believe it could work," added Gaillard.

"They would be just like the linesmen, talking to the ref through a radio system.

"Some people say it is better for them to stay behind the goal, others that it is better inside the penalty area so that things that go on like pulling and pushing are properly sanctioned."

Platini is coming to the end of his first year as Uefa president.

The 52-year-old Frenchman, who is also chairman of Fifa's technical and development committee, is a football legend.

He captained France to European Championship glory in 1984 and helped Juventus win the Italian championship twice as well as both the Uefa Cup and European Cup. The goal-scoring midfielder, who began his career at Nancy and also played for Saint-Etienne, also won a hat-trick of European Footballer of the Year awards.

[EskWeston 696]

Just when you thought they couldn't come up with any more ridiculous ideas

[Steve 10,227]

do they actually mean in the penalty box? like and extra ref in there at all times?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

My god, what happens when they miss a decision as well?

[Bandicoot 3]

Just when you thought they couldn't come up with any more ridiculous ideas

That's exactly what I thought when I read it, just shows how pathetic UEFA really are.