FIFA hopes to have a new communication system for referees in place in time for the 2006 World Cup.

Three different systems are being tested by world soccer's governing body in Zurich and one of them, or a combination of the three, should be ready for the start of the tournament on June 9.

"It could be used for the first time at the World Cup," Jose Maria Garcia Aranda, director of FIFA's department of refereeing, told Reuters.

"It's basically a way for the referee to communicate with the two assistants and the fourth official during the match."

In December last year, FIFA decided a smart-ball technology system, designed to rule out mistakes on goal-line decisions, needed more testing and would not be used at the World Cup.

Devising a closed system to enable match officials to talk to each other sounds a lot simpler although there are potential problems.

"One of the most important things is to make sure there is no interference and that people can't listen into the conversations," said Garcia Aranda, a former World Cup referee.

UEFA has been using a communication system for its referees in some European club matches. FIFA has yet to run any tests of its systems in matches.

The 44 refereeing trios still in the running for World Cup places gathered on Tuesday for a four-day workshop designed to test their knowledge of the game and levels of mental and physical fitness.

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