World Cup organizer Jordaan opposes video replays

Nov 19, 2009 - 4:53 PM By ROB HARRIS AP Sports Writer

LONDON(AP) -- Video replays at the World Cup would not end referee mistakes, tournament organizer Danny Jordaan said Thursday.

He said he sympathizes with Ireland missing a spot in the finals after France striker Thierry Henry's handball on Wednesday night. After touching the ball twice with his hand, Henry crossed to William Gallas whose goal gave France a 2-1 aggregate win in their playoff on Wednesday night.

Jordaan says fans should accept that disputed decisions are part of soccer.

"Ireland played very well to come back and was fighting all the way, but unfortunately those decisions are the reality of the game," Jordaan said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "In football these things happen, we have come to accept they happen every week."

And deferring calls to video replays is not a solution, according to Jordaan, who has seen inconclusive results from television evidence in cricket and rugby.

"A lot of incidents happen on the field of play and it is always possible (something similar) will happen at World Cup," said Jordaan, chairman of the local organizing committee. "But research has gone into replays in sport and sometimes even after replays many people are still unsure of the decision because it still requires a judgment call by a human being."

With all 32 finalists determined after Wednesday's playoffs, Jordaan attended a ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa, raising flags from each of the nations.

"Many Irish supporters in South Africa were looking forward to seeing the team coming," Jordaan said. "Many other teams' hopes were dashed with (African champion) Egypt not qualifying, while Russia also had high hopes of coming .... There are many happy hearts and many broken hearts."