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Former FIFA chief Blatter against video evidence at World Cup

By NAN
10 January 2018   |   12:02 pm
Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter has spoken out against using video evidence at Russia 2018 World Cup as teething problems continue to trail trials in countries such as Germany.

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 20, 2015 shows outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter gesturing during a press conference at the football’s world body headquarter’s in Zurich. Along with the Italian-Swiss secretary general of the European federation Gianni Infantino, Bahrain’s ruling dynasty, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa is considered a top favourite to win the post on February 26, 2016 to succeed Blatter, who has been suspended for eight years over corruption./ AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI

Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter has spoken out against using video evidence at Russia 2018 World Cup as teething problems continue to trail trials in countries such as Germany.

“You cannot use the World Cup as a guinea pig for such a serious intervention in the game,’’ Blatter said in an interview with Wednesday’s Sport Bild magazine.

Blatter, 81, was banned from football for eight years in 2015 by the FIFA ethics committee over a “disloyal payment” of 2 million Swiss francs (2.07 million dollars).

The payment was made to former European football chief Michel Platini.

The FIFA appeals committee later reduced the suspension to six years, while Platini is serving a four-year ban.

Blatter’s administration was sceptical of technological innovations during his 17 years as president of the world governing body.

But he finally advocated goalline technology for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after refereeing errors four years earlier in South Africa.

“It would be wrong to use video evidence in Russia, it is too immature and many countries still use it differently,’’ Blatter said.

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