Video replays to help football referees in key decision-making moments such as awarding penalties received the backing of England's Football Association chairman Greg Dyke on Wednesday. But Dyke said he was unsure about FIFA president Sepp Blatter's idea to allow managers a number of challenges to referees' decisions.
The FA has a powerful voice as it has one of the eight votes on the International FA Board (IFAB), the game's law-making body, along with Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and FIFA, which has four votes. The IFAB is due to discuss proposals in March. Dyke told Sky Sports News: "I for instance would allow a referee to go straight to the cameras (replay) for a penalty but you can't do that for every decision or the match would never finish.
"You don't want to throw the game away - you have seen in rugby where referees hardly make a decision about tries now, that wouldn't be a good idea for soccer but I do think use of technology should be considered carefully. "In 10 years' time I think we will look back and think 'wasn't it quaint we didn't use technology to help make certain decisions'."
Asked about Blatter's idea for allowing challenges by coaches, Dyke added: "I'm not sure about managers being able to throw in the towel and say 'we want to challenge that'. "I do think the laws on technology will change but it will take time and we have to do it slowly, try certain things and see if it works because you could disrupt the game completely if you are not careful."
Meanwhile, Dyke reiterated his view that it was "a mistake" for Blatter to stand for a fifth term in office but did not back the one other person who has said he will stand for FIFA president, the French former FIFA executive Jerome Champagne. Dyke said: "I think it's a mistake, I don't think he should be standing. He stood last time on the basis that he would not be standing again. He is 78 and will be 82 or 83 when the term finishes and it always good to let younger people have their time. "The FA would like to see another candidate and a proper competition. The FA will decide who it supports at a later stage if we think there is a serious candidate but he (Blatter) is probably going to win if anybody stands anyway."
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