Barwick backing for TV replay evidence

Brian Barwick, the new chief executive of the Football Association, wants television replays to help referees with contentious decisions such as penalties.

Barwick spent 24 years in television and worked as head of sport at both the BBC and ITV. He was appointed successor to Mark Palios on 25 November and will take up his new post with the FA on 31 January next year.

Barwick wants football to follow rugby's example and stop play to examine television replays, and he wants the Premiership to be the testing ground, although Fifa, the game's world governing body, is likely to oppose such a move.

"It will be sheer folly not to use TV action replays in cases where there are doubts over whether the ball crossed the goal-line," he said. "Rugby uses TV evidence to decide if the ball has been grounded for a try or if the scorer's foot has gone into touch.

"So it would work in soccer too, providing it was on a limited basis. The ball could have an electronic chip inserted in it that would trigger off a beep or a beam when it crosses the goal-line. That should be introduced as soon as possible. "It would be more difficult to use TV evidence on other decisions because the pace of the game is a crucial element, but it would be a good idea to experiment on which incidents warrant stopping play. For example, TV could resolve most penalty disputes."