Blatter rules out 'penalty goals'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter today rejected any possibility of 'penalty goals' being brought in following Luis Suarez's handball that denied Ghana a World Cup semi-final place.

Blatter did say however that any law changes being considered as a result of the Uruguay striker's actions would be discussed at the International FA Board in October.

Apart from 'penalty goals' there have also been calls for tougher disciplinary action for deliberate handballs.

Blatter also clarified that the October meeting would be the first discussion of goal-line technology rather than, as initially suggested by FIFA, later this month.

Blatter told a press conference in Johannesburg: "That meeting in October is when we will discuss the question of goal-line technology and take on such situations as we have witnessed in this competition with Suarez in the last minute of the match between Uruguay and Ghana.

"You have seen in this competition and in others that it's so difficult to say if a ball is in or out.

"But if it is not in then no referee can declare it is a goal, this is definite."

Blatter back-tracked on goal-line technology following Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany, when the ball was clearly over the line.

"The international board will reopen the discussion on the goal-line technology but this is not just to satisfy problems that have come up during this competition," he said.

"We have already received from different parties new approaches to how such technology could be installed and the easiest way [to do so].

"We will have a meeting on July 20 in Cardiff and this meeting will not deal with goal-line technology but will put it on the agenda for the normal business meeting in October."

Blatter also said he would back a bid by a South African city for the 2020 Olympics - the country's president Jacob Zuma has already hinted that one is likely, a move that has been welcomed by IOC president Jacques Rogge.

He continued: "I think that the IOC president has made a good move, after having witnessed the success of the World Cup here, to say 'now it's also time for Africa to organise the Olympic Games.

"If a country can organise FIFA's World Cup it can also organise the summer Olympic Games as they are mostly confined only in one city.

"I would fully support the candidature of one of the cities here in South Africa for the Olympic Games in 2020."