Video technology: FA chairman Greg Dyke keen for UK trials

Video technology: FA chairman Greg Dyke disappointed with delay

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke says he is keen to conduct video technology trials.

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has tested the use of replays to help a referee via a headset, and wanted to extend its use to competitive matches.

But a meeting of football's lawmakers this week put back such trials in official matches by at least 12 months.

"I would very much like to do a pilot in the UK," Dyke told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme.

However, he added: "[World governing body] Fifa can stop us doing a pilot in the UK."

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is football's ultimate rule-making body and made its decision just before Sunderland defender Wes Brown's controversial dismissal in Saturday's defeat by Manchester United.

Wes Brown
Referee Roger East dismisses Wes Brown as John O'Shea appears to protest against the dismissal

Television pictures suggested the foul on United striker Radamel Falcao appeared to have been made by Brown's Black Cats team-mate John O'Shea.

However, referees' body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) issued a statement saying referee Roger East thought Brown had fouled Falcao.

"I can understand that everybody thinks we should not rush into change and that we should do it slowly, which I think does make sense, but you have got to do pilots to see what does work and what doesn't," said Dyke.

Asked about Brown's red card, the FA chairman added: "If you could help that referee with video technology, then you should.

"We see these figures and they tend to suggest referees are not having a bad season but obviously there are still mistakes inevitably and they get highlighted. That's life."

Howard Webb
Webb officiated 500 Premier League and Football League matches and the 2010 World Cup final.

Former referees' chief Keith Hackett criticised the decision of IFAB and says ex-referee Howard Webb should to come out of retirement to help improve the standard of officiating.

Webb retired in August 2014 to become the technical director of PGMOL, which is headed up by Mike Riley.

"Referees are making big mistakes, week in, week out. They need some leadership and with that leadership the guy who is at the top needs to front up," Hackett told Sportsweek.

"He [Riley] should be encouraging Howard Webb to come back into the game as a referee. I don't know what Howard is doing behind the scenes with the referees."

On East's decision, he added: "I think it was another error in refereeing that we've seen, we're seeing it pretty often."