Fifa has called an extraordinary general meeting in December to discuss a string of incidents that have hit world football in recent weeks.
Football’s world governing body has taken the unusual step after the controversy over Thierry Henry’s handball against Ireland and crowd trouble at Algeria’s victory over Egypt, both of which were Wold Cup play-offs.
The extraordinary meeting of Fifa’s executive committee will take place in South Africa on December 2, when they were already due to meet to discuss the seedings for the World Cup. It is also likely they will talk about the German match-fixing scandal, the decision to ban the Iraqi Football Association for government interference, and refereeing standards in world football.
Fifa has already ruled out replaying Ireland’s play-off against France after Henry admitted handling the ball in the run up to William Gallas’ winning goal.
But the idea of having an extra referee’s assistant behind each goal like in the Europa League could be discussed.
The system is the brainchild of Uefa president Michel Platini and would have to be approved by the International Football Association Board before it could be used at the World Cup.
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith, who sits on the IFAB along with the three other home nations and Fifa, said: “I’ve no doubt Michel Platini will use this incident to push the system and they may now decide to put it to the IFAB that they want to have it at the World Cup.
“I feel it has its advantages at the highest levels of the game. When there’s massive TV coverage the problems are highlighted all over the world so this is something we may have to look at.”
