Referee errors part of the fun, says Beckenbauer

German legend Franz Beckenbauer pleaded on Wednesday for the rules of football to be left as they are, warts and all, because refereeing errors can be part of the sport’s charm.

“Leave football as simple and as clear as it is, together with all its mistakes,” Beckenbauer, a member of the executive committee of FIFA, the sport’s governing body, told the German daily Bild.

“The 1966 Wembley goal is part of football legend. We’ve been talking about it for over 40 years in England and Germany, and probably still will be in another 40 years. Just like Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal (in 1986).”

The comments followed some radical proposals on Tuesday by Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal, including doing away with throw-ins, having two referees on the pitch and cameras replacing linesmen for off-side decisions.

But Beckenbauer, 64, a World Cup winner for West Germany both as player and coach, said that even with different camera angles, off-side decisions can be so tight that “at the end of the day only a human being has to decide.”

He conceded, however, that another official behind the goal line might help.

“It is being tested right now in the Europa League, apparently with success.

“Players are holding and shoving less in the box because they know very well that someone right next to the goal is watching them very closely.

“This goal referee would probably have seen Thierry Henry’s handball in (France’s) World Cup qualifier against Ireland.”

And he said that it would also have meant that Bayern Munich, of which he is honorary president, would have had its crucial 89-minute goal in last month’s Champions League last-16 home leg against Fiorentina disallowed.

Replays showed scorer Miroslav Klose was yards offside.

Having won the first leg 2-1 in Munich thanks to the controversial decision, Bayern went through on the away goals rule in Fiorentina after Arjen Robben and captain Mark van Bommel scored in Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat.

The result meant that the Bavarian giants, currently riding high at the top of the Bundesliga, went through on away goals after the score finished 4-4 on aggregate. BERLIN, Wednesday, AFP