Valcke favours 'goal-line' but opposes video replay

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said he is against the use of video replay during games because it takes away the essence of football.

Valcke Thursday praised the use of goal-line technology, which helps referees determine whether the ball actually crossed the goal line as it was brought into the World Cup in Brazil for the first time, but he expressed disagreement with the possible use of video replay to solve controversial plays during games, reports Xinhua.

"The World Cup is a laboratory where we can test new technology, new ideas," he said at the opening of the first of a series of four technical conferences for the Brazil World Cup in the capital of Panama.

"If I may say, I'm against the use of video replay. I think the goal-line technology is the maximum we should use in a game in order not to destroy the beauty, the speed and the nature of the games," said Valcke.

His view seems to contrast with the opinion of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who recently said the video replay system allowing coaches to challenge a referee's decision may be trialled next year at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Blatter, 78, speaking via video link at Manchester's Soccerex, said he wants coaches to be allowed at least one challenge per half.