Platini wants penalty box officials

Uefa chief wants to follow American football

Wednesday May 16, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

New Uefa president Michel Platini is ready to revolutionise the "outmoded" world of refereeing by using two more officials in each match.
Platini, who was elected to office in January, wants to put an official behind each goal to help rule on penalty box infringements. The former France attacking midfielder believes that would be better than using technology, which he claims would "dehumanise" football.

"My idea is to increase the number of officials," he told France Football. "To referee with just three people, it is outmoded. Three officials cannot see everything. I am proposing two extra officials, over-45s who don't need to run because they would stay behind the goals.

"We must show the world that we are against injustice and that we are trying to do more to eliminate errors. As for using electronic systems, that risks dehumanising football."
Platini believes the sport should take a leaf out of American football's book, and use officials who highlight infringements by throwing a flag on to the field of play.

"Why not take the example shown by American football, who uses referees aged 60 or over, who signal fouls with their yellow flag," he added.

Diving is still hard to see at times, even having multiple cameras, multiple angles, multiple replays proves inconclusive so why would we put cataract ridden officials policing the box.

Not the worst idea ,probably will solve the ball crossing the line and will be closer to the area to see penalties or not.

But too many officials , the job of linesman and ref would be limited.

we can also place two more in the goalmouth. Any ricochets off them would certainly increase the spectacle.

i've heard worse suggestions coming out of his mouth

The-Frank-Tavern wrote:i've heard worse suggestions coming out of his mouth

Thats what I meant.Just trying to give it a try but its a no hoper.

if it wasn't for these test balloons coming from Blatter or Platini you might start to wonder whether they were alive or working...

What a load of nonesense.. why spend money and energy on something that isn't going to change the game..

Would be better to spend the energy on changing the way the big tournaments work..