FA heading for FIFA clash

FIFA and the Football Association are embroiled in a dispute over yellow and red cards with the world governing body insisting that referees are not allowed to rescind decisions except in cases of mistaken identities.

Two Premiership players, Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Portsmouth's Ricardo Fuller, have had cautions revoked by referees this season after they were originally booked for diving.

The FA's new disciplinary code does allow match officials to change their decision within 48 hours of a match, but they have run into trouble with FIFA's rule-makers.

FIFA communications director Markus Siegler told the Press Association: "We know the FA have revised their disciplinary regulations but it is clear in the laws of the game that a referee cannot take back a decision once he has restarted the game.

"The only possibility allowed is in the case of mistaken identity."

It is understood that FIFA have contacted the FA to state their unhappiness over two sections of the new code. One section relates to referees being able to rescind yellow cards and the other allows players or clubs to claim wrongful dismissal for incidents of violent conduct, serious foul play or denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Siegler pointed to the relevant section in the laws of the game which reads: "The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee, provided that he has not restarted play."

The FA are continuing to fight their corner, believing that as video evidence can be used to incriminate there should also be provision to use it to exonerate.

However FIFA president Sepp Blatter is fiercely opposed to video evidence being used to challenge referee's decisions.

He said last year: "A referee's decision has no space for speculation. If people start casting doubt on the referee they start casting doubt on football.

"If a player commits a foul and is sent off then no scientific evidence, whether cameras or other, shall change this decision."