Sepp Blatter was again wheeled out to face the TV  cameras today and I think that is two days out in the last month for the old man now and with the cold weather we’re having, I’m thinking they should keep him in his room a bit more. I’d hate for him to catch a chill.

Anyway, he was speaking about video replays again (yes, I know, I know. Leave it already, TRD!) and … well… read for yourself, this is a transcript of his comments…

“The referees are human beings and in football we advocate, and definitely the actual leadership of FIFA, I am not only speaking about the Presidency [i.e. himself - TRD] but the whole executive committee, we are advocating that referees shall remain human and we shall not have monitors to stop the game to have a look if it was right or wrong. But what we are open and also the International Football Assocation Board, they are the guardians of the laws of the game, is on goal-line technology.”

Make of that what you will but it reads like a complete contradiction to me. For the above to make any sense, Sepp Blatter should be saying:-

Did the ball cross the line or not? Make a decision, Ref. Consult your assistants if necessary. If you get it wrong, you are only human. There’s no need for goal-line technology just as there is no need for video replays to assist with other major decisions.

The goal-line technology thing is weak anyway. Did the ball cross the line or didn’t it? How many times do we ask that? Once, twice, three times per season?

Did the player dive? Did the player get the ball? Did the player use his hand? Was the player offside?

How many times do we ask those questions? Once, twice, three times PER GAME?