BLATTER APOLOGISES FOR REFEREES’ MISTAKES

VIENTIANE (1 July 2010) – FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he had apologised to the Football Association over Frank Lampard’s disallowed “goal” and revealed the governing body would look again at goal-line technology.

Lampard’s shot in England’s 4-1 defeat to Germany was ruled out even though the ball clearly crossed the line.

At a media briefing on Johannesburg, Blatter said: “It is obvious that after the experience so far in this World Cup it would be nonsense to not reopen the file of technology at the business meeting of the International FA Board in July.

“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.

“I have spoken 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 first opportunity in July at the business meeting.”

FIFA had blocked any further experiments with technology at a meeting of the International FA Board, the game’s rule-making body, in March.