Extra assistant refs to be used

Champions League matches next season will feature two extra assistant referees after the experiment was approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), yesterday.

The additional assistant referees system was used in the Europa League last season and has now been brought into Europe’s elite club competition, as well as a handful of other competitions around the world.

Referees will be assisted by two linesmen and two further officials in each penalty area.

The decision was ratified at a meeting of the technical sub-committee of football’s rule-makers in Cardiff, where it was also confirmed the issue of goal-line technology would be discussed in October.

IFAB, which comprises representatives from FIFA and England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, had previously rejected the idea of introducing goal-line technology on the grounds of cost.

But calls for its introduction grew louder after England’s Frank Lampard was denied what should have been an equaliser in the World Cup second round clash with Germany when his shot rebounded off the underside of the crossbar and dropped over the line.

The ‘goal’ went unseen by the match officials and was not given, denying England an equaliser in a match they eventually lost 4-1.