UEFA wants five officials at Euro 2012
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UEFA wants to have five officials on hand for matches at Euro 2012, its chief, Michel Platini, said on Tuesday, in a renewed drive to deal with disputed on-pitch decisions.
Speaking during a visit to Poland, co-host of the 2012 European Championships along with neighbour Ukraine, Platini said adding officials to the traditional trio of a referee and two linesmen had proven its worth in continental club competitions.
"I'm 500 percent satisfied with the way having five officials has worked in the Champions League and Europa League," he said.
"The results have been great, and the referees are really happy to have two colleagues to help them out."
The concept of extra officials is being tested out by FIFA, world football's governing organization.
The International Football Association Board, which determines the rules of the game, has been wrestling with how to end years of controversy over goals deemed to have been disallowed or approved unfairly.
"We have an international board meeting on Friday and Saturday in Wales and we're going to return to the issue of five officials," Platini said.
"We've asked the International board to allow five officials during the European Championships. We'll see that they have to say to us. I hope the answer will be positive," he added.
Platini spoke at a ceremony to mark the start of ticket sales for the 16-nation tournament - European soccer's showcase - which kicks off in Warsaw on June 8, 2012 and ends with the final in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on July 1.
The event started with hiccups, as staff had to rip down a stage curtain behind which Platini and fellow officials were sitting, after it failed to glide open.
Platini's microphone then failed to work right away and when it did, was hit by interference from his mobile telephone, which he threw to a colleague in the audience.
"You see, that's the problem with technology," Platini said, with a grin, taking advantage of the situation to reaffirm what he does not want to see in refereeing.
"That's why I'm against using video," he said.
FIFA has also rebuffed calls for the use of video to resolve contentious decisions, despite it being a success in sports such as tennis, cricket and rugby league and union. The rationale is that it would disrupt the flow of the game.
