Source: Liverpool_Echo
Goodison revs up for five referee experiment for Everton FC vs AEK Athens in Europa League
EVERTON will be at the forefront of one of football's most radical changes this week, when the Europa League's group stage kicks off with five-man refereeing teams.
The rebranded UEFA Cup competition is to feature an additional assistant referee beside each goal to help judge whether players have dived in the penalty box and committed fouls at set-pieces, and also determine if the ball has crossed the goal-line.
The system will be unveiled at 24 matches tomorrow, including Everton's opening group clash at Goodison Park against AEK Athens.
Officials are hoping it can drastically reduce the number of refereeing mistakes - often cruelly exposed by television replays - without using video technology.
Evertonians, however, might believe the experiment has come four years too late.
Their only foray into the Champions League came to an end in a qualifying round at Villarreal when renowned referee Pierluigi Collina mysteriously disallowed a Duncan Ferguson goal with no offence apparently having been committed.
The officials at Goodison tomorrow night will all be from Poland.
UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter are firmly opposed to technology, with the exception of microphones and headsets used by match officials to communicate with each other.
