UEFA President Michel Platini expressed his satisfaction at the progress of the system of additional assistant referees, which became part of the Laws of the Game last July, and which was deployed at UEFA EURO 2012 and is now being used in UEFA's major club competitions, according to UEFA.com.
In Sofia, the Executive Committee approved specific funding in the form of €10m worth of aid to national associations over three years to implement the additional assistant referees' program.
"The International Football Association Board accepted the system of five referees," the UEFA President reflected, "and we are going to continue with this system in our competitions. There is nothing negative about it – there are four extra eyes who are going to see things much better than was the case before. At the level of the UEFA Champions League, I am very happy to see what is happening – there are practically no more errors, and the referees see everything that is taking place on the pitch."
