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World Cup 2010: Blatter sorry for disallowed goal
Lampard effort not given
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has apologised to the Football Association over Frank Lampard's disallowed goal in England's World Cup defeat by Germany.
Lampard was denied a goal in Sunday's 4-1 last-16 loss, even though his shot clearly crossed the line.
Blatter said the debate on goal-line technology would be reopened when the International FA Board meets in July.
He also said sorry to Mexico after Carlos Tevez's offside goal was allowed to stand in Argentina's 3-1 victory.
Lampard's strike came during a spell of England dominance and would have levelled the score at 2-2.
"It is obvious that after the experiences so far at this World Cup it would be a nonsense not to reopen the file on goal-line technology," stated Blatter.
Tevez puts Argentina into controversial lead
The Tevez goal - the first in Argentina's second round win on Sunday - was replayed on the screens in the stadium, sparking angry clashes between officials and the Mexican players and coaches.
"Personally I deplore it when you see evident referee mistakes but it's not the end of a competition or the end of football, this can happen," added Blatter.
"Yesterday I spoke to the two federations [England and Mexico] directly concerned by referees' mistakes.
"I have expressed to them apologies and I understand they are not happy and that people are criticising.
"We will naturally take on board the discussion on technology and have the first opportunity in July at the business meeting."
Blatter's call comes less than four months after Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke said the door was "closed" on goal-line technology and video replays after a vote by the IFAB.
The decision was reached after watching presentations of two systems, Cairos - a microchip inserted in a ball and Hawk-Eye - used in tennis and cricket.
606: DEBATE
Give your reaction to Blatter's apology
In a statement on Fifa's website after the verdict, Blatter argued that human errors were part of football's appeal.
"The game must be played in the same way no matter where you are in the world," he wrote. "The simplicity and universality of the game is one of the reasons for its success.
"No matter which technology is applied, at the end of the day a decision will have to be taken by a human being. This being the case, why remove the responsibility from the referee to give it to someone else?"
The Fifa chief was in the crowd at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein as referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistant Mauricio Espinosa failed to spot that Lampard's 38th-minute shot had dropped well over the line.
German media have claimed the incident atones for the 1966 final when Geoff Hurst's strike for England against West Germany was allowed to stand, even though it was unclear whether the whole ball had crossed the line.
Blatter has always argued for football to retain its human element
"It happened in 1966 and then 44 years later - though it was not quite the same," added Blatter.
"I apologised to England and Mexico. The English said thank you and accepted that you can win some and you lose some and the Mexicans bowed their head and accepted it."
Blatter confirmed the IFAB would only look at the use of technology for goal-line situations, meaning no help for assistant referees over offside decisions like the Tevez goal.
"Football is a game that never stops and the moment there was a discussion if the ball was in or out, or there was a goalscoring opportunity, do we give a possibility to a team to call for replays once or twice like in tennis?
"For situations like the Mexico game you don't need technology."
Blatter also announced that Fifa will be launching a new drive to improve refereeing standards at the top level later this year.
"We will come out with a new model in November on how to improve high level referees," he commented.
"We will start with a new concept of how to improve match control. I cannot disclose more of what we are doing but something has to be changed."
Lampard effort not given
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has apologised to the Football Association over Frank Lampard's disallowed goal in England's World Cup defeat by Germany.
Lampard was denied a goal in Sunday's 4-1 last-16 loss, even though his shot clearly crossed the line.
Blatter said the debate on goal-line technology would be reopened when the International FA Board meets in July.
He also said sorry to Mexico after Carlos Tevez's offside goal was allowed to stand in Argentina's 3-1 victory.
Lampard's strike came during a spell of England dominance and would have levelled the score at 2-2.
"It is obvious that after the experiences so far at this World Cup it would be a nonsense not to reopen the file on goal-line technology," stated Blatter.
Tevez puts Argentina into controversial lead
The Tevez goal - the first in Argentina's second round win on Sunday - was replayed on the screens in the stadium, sparking angry clashes between officials and the Mexican players and coaches.
"Personally I deplore it when you see evident referee mistakes but it's not the end of a competition or the end of football, this can happen," added Blatter.
"Yesterday I spoke to the two federations [England and Mexico] directly concerned by referees' mistakes.
"I have expressed to them apologies and I understand they are not happy and that people are criticising.
"We will naturally take on board the discussion on technology and have the first opportunity in July at the business meeting."
Blatter's call comes less than four months after Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke said the door was "closed" on goal-line technology and video replays after a vote by the IFAB.
The decision was reached after watching presentations of two systems, Cairos - a microchip inserted in a ball and Hawk-Eye - used in tennis and cricket.
606: DEBATEGive your reaction to Blatter's apology
In a statement on Fifa's website after the verdict, Blatter argued that human errors were part of football's appeal.
"The game must be played in the same way no matter where you are in the world," he wrote. "The simplicity and universality of the game is one of the reasons for its success.
"No matter which technology is applied, at the end of the day a decision will have to be taken by a human being. This being the case, why remove the responsibility from the referee to give it to someone else?"
The Fifa chief was in the crowd at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein as referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistant Mauricio Espinosa failed to spot that Lampard's 38th-minute shot had dropped well over the line.
German media have claimed the incident atones for the 1966 final when Geoff Hurst's strike for England against West Germany was allowed to stand, even though it was unclear whether the whole ball had crossed the line.
Blatter has always argued for football to retain its human element"It happened in 1966 and then 44 years later - though it was not quite the same," added Blatter.
"I apologised to England and Mexico. The English said thank you and accepted that you can win some and you lose some and the Mexicans bowed their head and accepted it."
Blatter confirmed the IFAB would only look at the use of technology for goal-line situations, meaning no help for assistant referees over offside decisions like the Tevez goal.
"Football is a game that never stops and the moment there was a discussion if the ball was in or out, or there was a goalscoring opportunity, do we give a possibility to a team to call for replays once or twice like in tennis?
"For situations like the Mexico game you don't need technology."
Blatter also announced that Fifa will be launching a new drive to improve refereeing standards at the top level later this year.
"We will come out with a new model in November on how to improve high level referees," he commented.
"We will start with a new concept of how to improve match control. I cannot disclose more of what we are doing but something has to be changed."
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