JOHANNESBURG: FIFA will consider having extra match officials on the field to help referees at next year's World Cup in South Africa, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Monday.

Blatter said Thierry Henry's deliberate handball, which led to the goal that sent France to the World Cup at the expense of Ireland, showed referees needed more help on the field.

The FIFA executive committee will hold an emergency meeting in Cape Town today, two days ahead of the draw for the World Cup, to discuss whether to recommend extra match officials or video technology. If they agree, the proposal will go before football's rule-making International Board in Zurich in March for a final decision.