Richards fury over goal-line KO

Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards has launched a furious tirade at FIFA and UEFA for pulling the plug on trials of goal-line technology.

FIFA's representatives on the International FA Board (IFAB) imposed a freeze on the trials at the weekend and decided instead to back an experimental scheme put forward by UEFA president Michel Platini to have two extra assistant referees - one behind each goal.

The Premier League had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds employing Hawkeye to develop a goal-line technology scheme and Richards said: "I was absolutely gutted and very angry as well. The investment that we have put into this was considerable - and now it has all been for no reason."

Richards even told Platini he was "killing football" at the end of the meeting, according to The Guardian.

At the IFAB meeting, Platini insisted introducing goal-line technology could open the door for a whole raft of measures such as TV replays to judge offside decisions.

He said: "Either you help them with additional pairs of eyes or with technology and I'm against technology. Once you start, who knows where you might stop. The 18-yard line, the offside trap? All I'm saying is let's try my idea."

It is the second time in a month that FIFA and UEFA have thwarted the Premier League after rejecting their plans for overseas games out of hand.

Asked if the Premier League had a right to be unhappy, FIFA president Sepp Blatter insisted not.

He said: "They should be happy. The Premier League is the best-organised league with the most money coming in but when you are so rich you should share with the other components of football and not try to get more."