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| Nicolas Sarkozy © Action Images |
The spokesman for French president Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party on Saturday urged Uefa president Michel Platini to introduce video technology in the wake of the Thierry Henry handball row.
"Video is a necessary step towards irreproachability," wrote
Frederic Lefebvre in a message published on the social networking
website Facebook.
"Why deny such progress in a world that has changed? Rugby and
tennis can't be wrong and they've both introduced it recently.
"Referees end up embarrassing themselves and I feel for the
referee in the France-Ireland match, who was allowed to make an
error.
"I know that your main argument is commendable - equality
between professional and amateur sport. But the result, you know
well, is that referees are respected less and less in stadiums at
the weekend.
"It falls to you now... to explain your position, which is so
incomprehensible to millions of lovers of the round ball."
Platini, formerly a distinguished France international, has
always been opposed to the introduction of video replays to assist
on-pitch officials, saying it would "kill the game" and preferring
to trust in "human" officiating.
France qualified for the 2010 World Cup by drawing 1-1 with the
Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, after France captain Henry set up
the decisive goal with a blatant handball that was not seen by the
officials.
That result, after France's 1-0 playoff first leg win, gave the
1998 world champions a 2-1 aggregate win and their pass to South
Africa.
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