Argentinean football icon Diego Maradona voiced his support for the video assistant referee system, while acknowledging that with this technology his infamous goal against England in the 1986 World Cup would not have counted.
"Football can't fall behind. Given the rate at which technology is advancing and the fact that every sport uses it, how can we not think about using it in footballIJ" the former Barcelona and Napoli star told FIFA's website on Tuesday.
"People get annoyed when something that shouldn't be given is given, or when you have a goal wrongly disallowed. Technology brings transparency and quality, and it provides a positive outcome for teams who decide to attack and take risks," Maradona added.
The VAR technology has been tested by FIFA at a number of its tournaments, most recently at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, reports Efe.
Maradona acknowledged that not only his "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final would not have been counted with this technology, but things could have taken a different turn in one of the 1990 World Cup matches.
"I thought about it and, sure, that goal wouldn't have stood if technology had been around. And I'll tell you something else, at the 1990 World Cup I used my hand to clear the ball off the line against the Soviet Union," the 56-year-old recollected.
"We were lucky because the referee didn't see it. You couldn't use technology back then, but it's a different story today," he added.
We don't need Hernandez: Man U
Maryland (US): Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says that the former English Premier league (EPl) champions don't need the services of Mexican striker Javier Hernandez.
"I would always welcome (him) in my squad because he doesn't need many minutes on the pitch to score but we move in another direction in a younger player in lukaku and we have Rashford who can be a striker. So we didn't feel that need," Mourinho was quoted as saying on Wednesday by the Independent ahead of their International Champions Cup match against FC Barcelona.
The Mexican returned to English football on Monday, joining EPl side West Ham United after being sold to German football club Bayer leverkusen by then Manchester United coach louis Van Gaal in 2015.
Mourinho hailed the West Ham signing and said he never takes time to settle and score goals. "He left the club a few years ago, I'm not sure (if) it was his decision or the manager's but he's a good player, he's a player that will always score goals," the Portugese said.
Ederson says he has testicular cancer
RIO DE JANEIRO: One-time Brazil midfielder Ederson says he has testicular cancer and won't be able to play for his Flamengo club for months.
The disease was detected last Saturday and he will undertake surgery next Monday, the 31-year-old footballer said in a news conference on Tuesday.
Ederson has played for Nice and lyon in France, and for lazio in Italy. He represented Brazil once in 2010, and joined Flamengo in 2015.
Flamengo doctor Marcio Tannure said there was a 99 per cent chance of total recovery for Ederson, who was contracted to the club to Dec 31. Tannure said the disease was discovered after Ederson failed doping tests after three matches of the Brazilian championship in May.