23 Feb 2010

Pele wants officials behind the goals at world cup

6:53 pm on 23 February 2010

The football great Pele says FIFA should have a match official behind each goal to assist the referee at the World Cup, in a bid to avoid scandals like Diego Maradona's infamous handball at the 1986 tournament.

Pele says he's in favour of five match officials being used in each game at the World Cup in South Africa in June.

But but doesn't want video replays introduced as he says stopping play to review a potential foul or other incidents could impede a possible counter-attack.

UEFA introduced the experiment of using five match officials in the Europa League this season.

Pele, a three time World Cup winner, has been working with a FIFA committee that oversees officiating.

He raised the behind goal referees with president Sepp Blatter and German legend Franz Beckenbauer, after Thierry Henry's blatant handball helped France beat Ireland and qualify for the World Cup.