BRUGGE (BELGIUM), OCT 6: FIFA president Sepp Blatter renewed his campaign to rid soccer of tackles from behind today, calling on referees once again to follow FIFA mandates and eject players who employ the tactic.``We need to control the referees more and to tell them they have to do their duties. If not, they shall be replaced,'' Blatter said.Barely a year ago, red cards for tackles from behind became one of the most controversial issues at the World Cup in France, but Blatter says the issue has faded since.``The instructions given in France seem to have been forgotten when referees went back to their countries,'' Blatter said, arguing he saw several illegal tackles in recent friendlies such as Belgium vs. The netherlands last month.He said the loose standards were increasingly visible in the world's marquee leagues, where referees also failed to apply the FIFA's instructions.The campaign to eliminate tackles from behind began with France '98, including a stern warning to referees by Blattermidway through the first round to strictly follow the new rules intrepation. The result was a flurry of red cards and some obvious instances where defenders pulled up instead of challenging for the ball.``We need very strict control by refs otherwise game will not maintain its entertaining character,'' Blatter said.At a FIFA medical committee meeting in Brugge, officials said 60 per cent of injuries to knees and ankles are linked to tackles from behind, necessitating red cards to protect strikers.
