FIFA President Apologizes for Refereeing Errors

England and the misfortunes of Mexico caused a previously recalcitrant Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president, to apologize for arbitration on Tuesday to announce that errors and would reopen debate on the use of goal line technology in football .

"I deplore when you see the obvious errors of the referees," said Blatter told reporters. "There has been a five star game for referees. I'm sorry for the mistakes of the arbitrators evident."

Teams from England and Mexico paid the price for FIFA resistance to improve their arbitration in this World Cup, when they were eliminated in the knockout stage after 16 obvious mistakes by referees.

England were denied a clear scoring against Germany when Frank Lampard shot hit the cross bar and bounced beyond the goal line. TV cameras showed clearly what the referee and his assistants were not able to field. Later that day, Argentina received by mistake a goal against Mexico when striker Carlos Tevez score was allowed to stand despite the fact that Tevez was clearly offside.

A repeat of the Tevez goal was shown on video screens at the Soccer City stadium, causing outrage Mexican players to confront the referee. Video operators are under strict orders not to repeat FIFA controversial call on the screens of the stadium, but they have done on numerous occasions during this tournament.

"I apologized to England and Mexico," said Blatter. "The English thanked him and accepted that you can win and lose, and Mexicans bowed their heads and accept it."

He also said that renewed discussions about the technology to determine if a goal was scored, as was the case in England-Germany, but not "video to have the goal ruled Argentina against Mexico.

"The only principle that we will bring back for discussion is the goal-line technology," said Blatter. "In situations like the game in Mexico, does not need technology."

The issue will be addressed in July in Cardiff, Wales, where the International Football Association Board meets to discuss rule changes. Last December, the board decided against the improvements to the 2010 World Cup.