Blatter apologises over Lampard 'goal'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter today said he had apologised to the Football Association over Frank Lampard’s disallowed ’goal’ and revealed the governing body would look again at goal-line technology.

Lampard’s effort during England’s 4-1 defeat to Germany was ruled out even though the ball clearly crossed the line and has led to renewed calls for the introduction of technology.

Blatter told a media briefing in Johannesburg today: “It is obvious that after the experience so far in this World Cup it would be a nonsense to not reopen the file of technology at the business meeting of the International FA Board in July.

“Personally I deplore it when you see evident referee mistakes but it’s not the end of a competition or the end of football, this can happen.

“The only thing I can do is yesterday I have spoken to the two federations [England and Mexico] directly concerned by referees mistakes. I have expressed to them apologies and I understand they are not happy and that people are criticising.

“We will naturally take on board the discussion on technology and have first opportunity in July at the business meeting.”

Sunday night’s match between Argentina and Mexico had also thrown up a controversial incident, with Carlos Tevez scoring the opening goal from a blatantly offside position.

FIFA had blocked any further experiments with technology at a meeting of the International FA Board, the game’s rule-making body, in March.