Whelan calls for FA to go it alone (From Oxford Mail)

Whelan calls for FA to go it alone

5:23pm Wednesday 11th April 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has called on the Football Association to ignore FIFA and bring in the widespread use of video technology.

The Latics were the victims of a triple injustice at Chelsea on Saturday, when Branislav Ivanovic was not spotted appearing to strike Shaun Maloney before the Serbian scored the opening goal despite being offside.

"Referees cannot be right 100% of the time," Whelan told Sky Sports News. "They need help desperately. Had the referee been able to ask if there was anything wrong with the goal he gets the information."

Juan Mata also netted an injury-time winner from an offside position to add to Wigan's woes.

Referees' chief Mike Riley has apologised to Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, but after a weekend when Shaun Derry was sent off for QPR and then had his one-match ban for a debatable foul on Ashley Young - who was also offside - upheld, but Mario Balotelli escaped any sanction for a woeful challenge on Arsenal's Alex Song, Whelan has decided it is time for the FA to act.

"I don't understand why we don't break away from FIFA on rules like this and say we are going to turn to technology.

"We have to say to Mr Blatter, whatever you say, the Premier League will help our officials with more technology.

"Tell them, quite simply. Tennis, cricket, rugby, rugby league. Why not football? Why can't we get the decisions 99.9% correct."

Whelan's sentiments are doubtless shared by many supporters, but they are unlikely to be followed up by the FA because English teams might not be allowed to compete in any international competition run under FIFA's direction.

FIFA are resolutely opposed to the widespread use of video technology and also the concept of games being 're-refereed' as happens in both codes of rugby.