New calls for net cameras

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Fresh calls have been made to install cameras in nets after Bolton Wanderers were denied a goal against Everton in Monday night's Premiership match.

Television replays clearly show Gerry Taggart's header had crossed the line before Terry Phelan kicked it away, but the goal was not given.

David Elleray, the Premier League referees' spokesman, and the Professional Footballers' Association feel the incident underlines the need for technology to be introduced to help officials.

Elleray does not want to see games interrupted repeatedly but he does feel the "magic eye" should be used in cases like this.

"I think decisions of fact, like balls crossing the line, is one area we should be looking at the possibility of using technology, particularly in incidents where referees and assistant referees are unable to see clearly," he said.

"It is not beyond the wit of man to have something in the posts and crossbar, like in cricket with a camera in the stumps, to assist with that. Referees have been discussing it informally between themselves and there is a growing view that technology could be useful."

Brendan Batson, the deputy chief executive of the PFA, echoed Elleray's view and added: "It is unfair if a patently good goal is disallowed because the referee does not have a clear view of the incident. If the technology is there we should look at its use to aid the sport."

However, the Bolton manager, Colin Todd, whose side were denied victory in the first match at their new Reebok Stadium because of the decision, is lukewarm about the idea. He said he was wary about stopping and starting the game to consider decisions.

"If anything like this could help maybe it should be considered," Todd said. "But we have to be careful because we don't want games interrupted all the time. Really it's up to the linesman and the referee and you just have to accept their decisions."

The Football Association is against the proposal and its spokesman, Steve Double, said: "We're interested in technology where it can aid referees without replacing them and we're wary of this idea. It's clear that Fifa are against it and it could lead to constant interruptions to games."

n Fifa agreed yesterday that cannabis should be included on its list of banned substances. Football's world governing body also announced at a meeting in Cairo that it would carry out inspection visits to Bhutan and Palestine, who have applied for Fifa membership. An updated report on Gibraltar's request for membership will be received in December.