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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:13 a.m., Saturday, February 28, 2009

Soccer: Top league to use extra referee behind goal

Associated Press

NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland — International soccer officials agreed on Saturday to have one of the world's top leagues experiment with having an extra assistant referee behind each goal beginning next season.

Italy and France have already volunteered to host the trial approved by the International Football Association board.

Even as the IFAB moved ahead with the plan to rule on disputed goals, it also agreed to revive investigations into whether technology would be a better solution — a year after halting all experiments.

The IFAB rejected proposals to allow a fourth substitute in extra time and to look at implementing a penalty box sin bins for yellow card offenders.

FIFA's proposal to extend the half time to 20 minutes was also dropped from the agenda.