Wales stand alone in World Cup tech vote

THE FA of Wales look like being the only member of the Home Nations to voice caution about the controversial use of video assistant referees at the 2018 World Cup.

The International Football Association Board, consisting of British and FIFA representatives, meet in Zurich tomorrow to vote on using the technology in Russia. A 6-2 majority is required and England — the only home nation to qualify for the finals — Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to side with FIFA, who have four votes.

The chronic delay in decision-making during the Tottenham v Rochdale FA Cup fifth-round replay on Wednesday is not expected to influence the vote to any great extent. There have been far fewer trials in the UK compared with countries such as Italy, Germany, USA and Australia.

FIFA, who have data from more than 800 matches using the technology around the globe, believe enough trials have taken place to approve it for Russia 2018. However, Wales do not believe IFAB should fully commit at this stage and are worried that not enough World Cup officials will have sufficient experience of the system.

But the English FA, even with Wednesday’s fiasco taking place at their Wembley headquarters, will not be swayed in their support. RICHARD BEVAN, chief executive of the League Managers Association, is to help out the crisis-hit Professional Cricketers’ Association.

Bevan, a respected former chief executive of the PCA and the senior trustee of the Team England Player Partnership, will offer much-needed guidance on the T20 pay negotiations for county and international players.

The beleaguered PCA chief executive David Leatherdale, who is on sick leave, lost the confidence of senior England players about his ability to secure the best terms from an ECB awash with Tv money. As Sports Agenda first revealed, Leatherdale, former Worcester chief executive, is seen as having too cosy a relationship with ECB executives.

THE RFU, who have legions of minders at their disposal, allowed head coach Eddie Jones to travel alone on public transport the day after an England defeat. Yet they pile on the protective measures inside their secure Pennyhill Park hotel base just because an unwitting journalist (yours truly) found himself in the team rooms. Talk about skewed priorities. An RFU spokeswoman said Jones would have ‘appropriate’ security in future.

THE FA have had their full share of recent troubles around women’s football, from the saga over Eniola Aluko (right) to the appointment of Phil Neville as England manager. But at least the gender pay gap figures at Wembley should not be adding to...