SINGAPORE - INTRODUCING goalline technology at soccer stadiums would prove a cheaper and more reliable aid to referees than UEFA's method of two additional assistants, according to manufacturers.
UEFA will expand the use of five referees to some Champions League matches and European Championship qualifiers this season after a successful trial in the Europa League, but German company Cairos Technologies feel their solution should be used.
'You need to pay a referee each time for every match, plus two more referees, which is more expensive than having goalline technology,' Cairos sales director Mario Hanus told Reuters on the sidelines of the Soccerex Asian forum in Singapore this week. UEFA were not immediately available for comment.
Following Frank Lampard's disallowed effort for England in their World Cup second round defeat by Germany in South Africa last month, there has been much talk at the forum, and in the sport, about using technology.
Fifa President Sepp Blatter apologised to England after the match, and the Swiss said the topic of goalline technology would be discussed by soccer law-makers the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
However, last week IFAB, which consists of one representative from each of the four British associations and four from Fifa, left the topic off their agenda which Hanus said was frustrating. -- REUTERS
