1 Dec 2009

There may be extra referee's assistants at World Cup finals

6:06 pm on 1 December 2009

Additional assistant referees could officiate at next year's football World Cup finals in South Africa.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says FIFA will re-consider the organisation of the qualifying competition for future World Cups and could end the current playoff system.

Blatter says match control is now on the agenda for this week's executive committee meeting in South Africa....

Blatter says how can they avoid the cheating handball situation they had in that game between France and Ireland for example.

If FIFA decide to go ahead with the plan, it will almost certainly be approved by the law-making International Board next March in time to be adopted at the World Cup which starts in June.

Ireland have asked to be considered as the 33rd team in the World Cup finals following their controversial elimination by France earlier this month and the request will be discussed in Cape Town this week.