Fergie: Video row will rumble on

As the Republic of Ireland continue to seethe over their World Cup dream being wrecked by Thierry Henry's blatant handball at the Stade de France on Wednesday, a series of leading figures have called for match officials to be given more assistance in getting the big decisions right.

Ferguson has suffered himself recently, with Didier Drogba hauling Wes Brown down at Chelsea a fortnight ago as John Terry flicked in the only goal.

The Manchester United manager admits this week's incident is more serious given it marked the end of Ireland's chances of reaching next summer's finals in South Africa.

However, the United boss is acutely aware his side's defeat at Stamford Bridge could eventually prove to be equally calamitous.

Yet he realises such arguments will continue until there is an attitude shift among the men who run the sport.

"It will never be solved unless the people who run the game change their minds," said Ferguson.

"It is not a matter of going round every player and coach in the world and asking their opinion because you would probably get the same one.

"We all think, as I do myself, that technology can play a part. It can help referees.

"But the stance is that they prefer human decision making. Until that changes, there is nothing you can do about it."

Whilst most of the debate emerging out of the Paris row has centred around Henry, and whether he should instantly have admitted an infringement, as a coach himself, Ferguson's initial reaction was one of sympathy for Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, who almost masterminded one of the greatest nights in his adopted country's history.

"My thoughts were for Trapattoni," said Ferguson.

"He has prepared a team magnificently. It was a fantastic performance by them. He could not have asked for better.

"Then it was taken away from him.

"It happens. It has denied a couple of our players (John O'Shea and Darron Gibson) that great experience of playing in a World Cup finals. You can't get a better experience than that.

"But two weeks ago, Didier Drogba pulled down Wes Brown. There is not the same hullabaloo, which is quite right because this was a major incident.

"Ireland can't recover. But does the other incident cost Manchester United the league? It could very well. That is how important decision making can be."

The debate about video technology has always been about the amount of time it would take for decisions to be made and the effect it would have on the normal flow of a game.

Even in sports that have successfully embraced the concept - both codes of rugby and cricket - there is a time issue, although that can also heighten spectator excitement during the wait for a key decision to be made.

"Look at American football and the time they take with debatable decisions," said Ferguson.

"It might take three or four minutes, which allows the coach to talk to his players.

"I realise the fans are used to spending all day at the ground.

"The argument here is that football is a winter game and it would take too long for the referee to go across to a monitor.

"But sometimes a goalkeeper takes a minute to take a goal kick. The amount of time in a game of football is normally 65 minutes.

"It would only take a minute or so for the referee to walk across to a monitor - and he can be assisted by his assistants."