FIFA reviews use of TV graphic after offside error

GRAHAM DUNBAR
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — FIFA acknowledges its television production team was wrong to broadcast a graphic that suggested Brazil forward Fred was offside when scoring in the 4-1 win over Cameroon.

FIFA director of television Niclas Ericson said Tuesday that the error shown to viewers was under review.

“It is very fast decisions to put in that (graphic), but mistakes can happen,” Ericson said in a briefing.

An on-screen graphic displayed a pitch-wide line to measure the Cameroon defenders trailing behind Fred’s attacking position in Monday’s match.

However, Fred was onside because he was level with the ball when it was passed by teammate David Luiz. Fred’s header gave Brazil a 3-1 lead.

“We are discussing that with the production team why that line was drawn wrongly,” Ericson said of the apparent misunderstanding of the laws of football.

The confusion provoked “many, many minutes” of discussion in Brazilian broadcasters’ commentary, he said.

Earlier in the tournament, the World Cup broadcast operations chief said the same technology could be used in future to help referees decide offside calls.

Francois Tellier, chief executive of Host Broadcast Services, said a technical operator was dedicated to calculating the offside line.

“The operators are super well trained for that. He is adjusting the line and they are very experienced in it,” Tellier said.

Ericson described the HBS team as “the best directors and production team in the world for football.”

The offside graphic, which was also used at the 2010 World Cup, has been popular, he said.

“It is a feature that football fans around the world appreciate,” Ericson said. “We just have to make sure it is inserted in the correct way.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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