Pele says FIFA should field a match official behind each goal to
assist the referee at the World Cup and avoid scandals like Diego
Maradona's infamous handball at the 1986 tournament.
Pele said Monday that he is in favor of five match officials
being used in each game at the World Cup in South Africa this June,
but he opposes video replays. Stopping play would slow the game and
could impede a possible counterattack, he said.
UEFA introduced the experiment of using five match officials
in the Europa League this season.
Pele spoke Monday in Mexico City where he is promoting the
Copa Libertadores, South America's top club competition.
"It was decided not to use modern technologies, but we do
propose using two referees behind the goals, and FIFA is
considering this," said Pele, who has been working with a FIFA
committee that oversees officiating.
Pele, a three-time World Cup winner with Brazil, raised the
possibility of having referees behind the goals for international
games at FIFA meetings with president Sepp Blatter and German
legend Franz Beckenbauer in the fall, after Thierry Henry's blatant
handball helped France beat Ireland and qualify for the World Cup.
It's a proposal that's been floated since the 1986 World Cup
when Maradona, now coach of Argentina, scored a goal against
England with an unpenalized handball which he referred to as the
"Hand of God."
Pele said Monday he's looking forward to a scandal-free World
Cup, and that while it's difficult to name favorites, he has a lot
of confidence in his homeland and has been impressed with Spain as
well. He also said England, Italy and Argentina are likely to be
contenders.
"The reality is that there isn't a team that can say, 'We're
the team most likely to win the World Cup.' It's very, very even,"
he said.
However, Pele said he was not optimistic about Mexico's
chances.
"The Mexican soccer team needs to do more exchanges with
Latin America and Europe," he said. "I think that would give them
more experience and confidence."
Pele also said that Brazilian striker Robinho, who recently
returned to Brazilian club side Santos from Manchester City on
loan, deserves a place in the national squad.
Pele began playing for Santos, based in Sao Paulo, when he
was 15 and played for the team for almost 20 years. He joined the
national team a year later and won his first World Cup when he was
just 17.
