Stoke boss Tony Pulis has called for the introduction of video replays to assist referees.
Stoke boss wants technology introduced
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has called for the introduction of video replays to assist referees after Reading's controversial draw against Watford.
The Royals, who travel to the Britannia Stadium in the Carling Cup third round on Tuesday night, went ahead in the 13th minute of their Championship clash at Vicarage Road on Saturday when assistant referee Nigel Bannister flagged for a goal, when a corner should have been awarded.
Watford's furious protests fell on deaf ears with referee Stuart Attwell accepting his assistant's verdict, but television replays showed the scale of the blunder.
Stoke's battling point at Anfield was also the subject of some debate after Steven Gerrard's free-kick was ruled out with Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt deemed to be offside as they ran across the line of the ball without making contact.
Pulis feels the only way to be certain that the right decision has been made is the introduction of video replays, but he insists it needs to be throughout England's four professional divisions.
Mistakes
He told
Sky Sports News: "I don't think any referee or linesman or official go out to mistakes. I don't think any player goes on a football pitch to go out and make mistakes, but being human we do make mistakes.
"It just drops back to technology. Goal line technology or certain specifics in the final third. Do we need to stop it and see if it is a penalty? Do we need to stop it and see if the ball has gone over the line?
"I still think that would be good for the game. I think we can do it like in rugby league where it is a five or 10 second burst. And then see the major incidents if there are any questionable decisions.
"If we do decide to do that, we must do it right through (the divisions). If we're going to do it at the top level, we must make sure it filters through, and that costs money."
Close
Pulis admitted his initial reaction at Anfield on Saturday was that Gerrard's goal should have stood, but after reviewing the incident he feels referee Andre Marriner and his assistant made the right decision.
He added: "I thought it was a goal. The lads have seen it today and they're saying that Torres is actually offside, so it was a good decision by the referee.
"It was a close decision. Being that close and being at a club with that many supporters there, you expect the big clubs to get the decisions, so I'm very, very pleased."
