World Cup Set For A Refereeing Revolution2:34pm UK, Tuesday December 01, 2009
Ian Dovaston, sports correspondent
Sky News has learnt that Fifa is "99% certain" to sanction the use of five referees in every game at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Henry's handball has prompted the refereeing revolution.The landmark decision - the biggest change in refereeing for a century - will be made at an emergency meeting of football's power-brokers in Cape Town tomorrow.
Sky sources have also revealed that Fifa will reject Ireland's request to play at the tournament and that a row over which teams are seeded for the competition has erupted involving France.
The refereeing revolution - and Ireland's protest - were prompted by Thierry Henry's handball last month that ended Irish World Cup dreams.
While the introduction of technology remains off the agenda, Fifa is ready to adopt a Europa League experiment with two extra officials monitoring the goalmouths at next summer's showpiece.
The effects would be felt far beyond the World Cup, since the whole of the professional game including the Barclays Premier League would have to adopt the practice if it finds favour with the International Football Association Board (IFAB) next March in Zurich.
And Henry's hand may even prompt a change in the seeding arrangements ahead of Friday's World Cup draw, which will be discussed during the Fifa EGM.
But it is the men in black who will top the agenda, as football's powerbrokers seek to improve the standard of international refereeing.
Sky News understands that Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, has been reluctant to intervene, but is convinced now that something has to be done.
The extra refs - one of whom would almost certainly have spotted Henry's offence against the Irish - would stand behind the goal-line beyond the keeper's right-hand post and are not empowered to enter the field of play.
Two officials would be behind the goalsIf the 24 men of Fifa's executive committee favour the five refs idea, and want to use it at South Africa 2010, then it would have to be ratified by the body which has the final say on the rules of the game.
The IFAB is made up of Fifa, which has four votes, alongside the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations, which have one vote each as traditional guardians of the game.
A minimum six votes are required for a law change, and it is highly likely Fifa would get its way.
But former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has urged caution, telling Sky News: "If they decide to do it, they've got to prepare the referees.
"It would be a mistake for the guy to go in on the opening match and have to do that for the first time."
The emergency meeting will also discuss seedings ahead of Friday's World Cup draw, when the qualified teams are split into eight groups of four.
The French, having qualified so controversially, jumped from ninth to seventh in the Coca-Cola ranking list as a result of their two-legged play-off against Ireland, perhaps entitling them to a place among the elite.
But Fifa wants to use the earlier ranking list from October before the play-offs to pick their seeds, prompting a row between fringe candidates like France and Argentina who, if they miss out, could end up in England's group.
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I haven't been following ball as much as usual lately, but this comes a shock to me. No matter what you think of him or J'kans, this definitely a sad, sad story for one of the Caribbean's most recognized ballers- especially since it sounds like he has a newborn to look after right now 
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