UEFA takes first step on from linesmen's buzzers

There were rumblings in UEFA's headquarters on Thursday when the executive committee agreed to investigate how new technology might be able to help referees.

It can hardly be called an earthquake and in the words of satirical magazine Private Eye the world of soccer was not exactly rocked to its foundations on Thursday.

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There were certainly audible rumblings from UEFA's Nyon headquarters in Switzerland, however, when the executive committee of European soccer's governing body agreed to investigate how new technology might be able to help referees.

The last innovation to help match officials get decisions right is so discreet that no-one can see it and it is hardly hi-tec.

For the last 10 years linesmen have pressed a buzzer on the end of their flag handles to send a signal to a sensor on the referee which tells the man in the middle the linesman is waving at him.

That is simple enough, but obviously does not help with, for example, controversial offsides, dubious goals, or dodgy goalline clearances.