Sepp Blatter is not prepared to overpay for getting goal-line calls correct.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ZURICH, Switzerland -- Use of goal-line technology was rejected because of high costs and potential interruptions in the flow of games, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday.

The FIFA-dominated International Football Association Board rejected plans to pursue the use of technology at its annual meeting last weekend.

"The application of modern technologies can be very costly, and therefore not applicable on a global level," Blatter wrote on the FIFA website. "Many matches, even at the highest level, are not even televised.

"For example, we have close to 900 preliminary matches for the FIFA World Cup, and the same rules need to be applied in all matches of the same competition."

The IFAB was updated on the latest developments in goal-line aides from Cairos, which has a microchip ball, and Hawk-Eye, which uses a camera-based system.

"If the IFAB had approved goal-line technology, what would prevent the approval of technology for other aspects of the game?" Blatter said. "Every decision in every area of the pitch would soon be questioned."

Blatter adds that even computer evidence can be disputed.

"No matter which technology is applied, at the end of the day a decision will have to be taken by a human being," Blatter said. "It is often the case that, even after a slow-motion replay, 10 different experts will have 10 different opinions on what the decision should have been.

"If play were to be stopped to take a decision, it would break up the rhythm of the game and possibly deny a team the opportunity to score a goal. It would also not make sense to stop play every two minutes to review a decision, as this would go against the natural dynamism of the game."

What could be an alternative is the use of an extra official behind each goal, which has been tested in the Europa League this season.