Instead, it persists with the use of extra officials behind the goal to inform the referee's decisions.

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Europe's continental competitions will instead persist with the use of extra officials behind the goal to inform the referee's decisions.

CNN: FIFA awards goal-line technology licenses

He declined going to the third referee for two run out decisions in Zimbabwe's match against New Zealand.

BBC: Nervous times for umpires

Referee Mike Dean had the easiest of decisions when Vermaelen flattened Bikey in the area, and the reliable Alexander completed what is now effectively a formality by drilling his penalty past Almunia for his 100th career league goal.

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But the referee's authority only matters with subjective decisions, like whether a handball was intentional or a tackle was dangerous.

WSJ: Gabriele Marcotti:The Ghost Goals That Haunt Soccer

In his first competitive match in charge, Staunton was banished to the stands by referee Luis Medina Cantalejo for kicking a water bottle in frustration at one of the Spaniard's decisions.

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Then there is the argument that the referee's authority might somehow be undermined because certain decisions are taken out of his hands.

WSJ: Gabriele Marcotti:The Ghost Goals That Haunt Soccer

Referee Mark Halsey had to make two big decisions on the half hour, which ended with Stoke taking the lead.

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