Pretoria - FIFA referees refuse to be drawn into the controversy that has surrounded refereeing at World Cup matches, saying they are in no position to speak on decisions taken by colleagues on match day.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the referees from Asia, Europe and Africa, said they will adopt a wait and see approach regarding the raging debate on goal line technology.
Earlier, FIFA President Sepp Blatter called a press conference to apologise to both Mexico and England for the refereeing errors that partly led to the teams' elimination from the World Cup, promising FIFA will reopen the debate on introducing video technology at soccer matches.
Video technology is used in sports such as Cricket and Rugby to assist match officials in crucial decision making.
Blatter had in the past, strongly objected to the introduction of such technology in football but on Tuesday he said this would be under discussion when the International Football Association (IFA) and FIFA meet later this year.
Instant replays on Sunday showed referees or their assistants' decisions to be incorrect in both matches involving England/Germany and Argentina/Mexico.
Blatter also said FIFA would update its referee training programme to meet the changing match environment.
But England-based referee Howard Webb said while video technology would assist referees in their decision making, it's not something he "desperately" wanted to see implemented.
"Well FIFA makes these decisions and we just apply the guidelines so if they decide to introduce goal line, then we'll see. We only make decisions based on what we at that particular time of the match see so I will support any changes to the rules if they so decide," Webb said.
Webb also dismissed claims that the vuvuzela noise was contributing to the spate of errors committed by referees since the start of the tournament. "Well, if people are saying that, well I don't know, but for me there is no such thing. It doesn't affect communication between me and my assistants, We are used to the atmosphere by now so I wouldn't blame the vuvuzela at all, any mistake, is just a mistake; we are human after all."
South Africa's highly experienced referee Jerome Damon also said it was up to FIFA and the IFA to make a decision on the introduction of goal line technology and that he would support any changes.
"At the end of the day, it is up to them, I do not want to pre-empt anything and say such changes would assist us or not because we are just referees applying the clauses as we know them. If and when FIFA decides to introduce goal line technology we will cross that bridge when we get to it," said Damon.
"We are faced with a lot of challenges in the field, but there more you practice the more your eyes and body get used to it," he said, when asked if the World Cup pressure may be contributing to the referring errors.
Darren Cann, assistant referee from England said: "We work under extremely demanding conditions...we have to make quick decisions and so indeed there is room for mistakes but one always tried to minimise those. We will be following the debate and will wait for FIFA to let us know if there will be any changes in as far as that (video technology) is concerned," he said.
