International Board to take new look at goal-line systems

MANCHESTER, Mar 2 (Reuters) The possible use of goal-line technology, tougher sanctions against elbowing and banning masks in goal celebrations are all on the agenda when the International Football Association Board (IFAB) meets tomorrow.

The IFAB, formed in 1886 and pre-dating FIFA by 18 years, comprises the four British associations and four members of FIFA and is the game's ultimate law-making body.

Changes only come into effect with six out of the eight delegates voting in favour of any proposal.

After experiments with goal-line technology proved inconclusive at the World Under-17 championships in Peru in 2005, further experiments have been conducted over the last year.

The IFAB will be examining developments with the Adidas/Cairos system that uses a microchip in a ''smart'' ball to decide whether it has fully crossed the line.

The Board will also be looking at separate proposals from the Italian and English FAs who have been developing their own goal-line systems.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, long an opponent of using video technology or other devices to decide whether a goal has been scored always saying instead that football must maintain its ''human face'', told journalists this week he welcomed further discussion on the matter.

''The problem though is finding a full-proof solution which determines whether a goal has been scored or not. Adidas/Cairos have been working on their intelligent ball, but if this system cannot work then we will have to look at other ones.'' MASK ISSUE Among those who would like to see goal-line technology introduced immediately is Sam Allardyce of English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers.

''There is no question -- that is the one change to the laws of the game that I would like to see introduced as soon as possible,'' Allardyce said yesterday.

''I believe the pictures of any incident could be reviewed within 30 seconds and would make a huge impact. I can understand the argument that says if you have it in the top leagues like the Premier League then you'd have to have it lower down too and that might not be possible, but I think it is about time we gave it a try.'' The Board are likely to approve further developments and experiments with technology but not yet incorporate any system into the laws.

However, they are likely to impose tougher sanctions on players using their elbows.

Blatter added: ''We saw one very serious incident in the World Cup last year when Italy played the United States, and we cannot tolerate elbows being used in football any longer.'' FIFA is also sumbitting that any player who covers their face with a mask after scoring should be booked as they feel the practice tarnishes the image of the game.

Ecuadorean striker Ivan Kaviedes donned a yellow spider-man mask after he scored against Costa Rica in the World Cup last summer, saying it was a tribute to a former international Otilino Tenorio who died in a car crash.

FIFA also wants to sanction any player who displays political, religious or personal slogans on their undershirts and a proposed revision of that law would allow transgressions to be handled by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

Any law changes agreed by the Board will come into effect on July 1.

REUTERS SSC RAI0922