While other sports have happily embraced the use of video replays or infrared systems to review goals and other close calls, earlier this year football's governing body ruled out the use of any such system for the foreseeable future.
The issue came into sharper focus than ever after decisions, shown by instant replays to be incorrect beyond any reasonable doubt, altered the balance of Sunday's two World Cup second round matches.
In the later game at Soccer City, Mexico had been enjoying the better of the game against Argentina when Carlos Tevez scored from a clearly offside position, setting Diego Maradona's side on their way to a 3-1 win.
He was unable to do anything but refer reporters to recent statements from FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who reiterated his opposition to the use of technology after the sport's lawmaking body decided against its introduction in March.
"The game must be played in the same way no matter where you are in the world," Blatter said on FIFA's website. "The simplicity and universality of the game is one of the reasons for its success.
"No matter which technology is applied, at the end of the day a decision will have to be taken by a human being. This being the case, why remove the responsibility from the referee to give it to someone else?"
Critics among fans, players and coaches may argue that in certain cases, Sunday's games among them, giving the responsibility to someone else would lead to a more accurate decision.
Germany midfielder Sami Khedira, who played in the England game, told a news conference: "We are quite happy the way it is because in the long run these things get balanced out. It's all part of the game and part of the emotion."
Plenty of people involved in the sport would clearly welcome it, however, including Khedira's team-mate Miroslav Klose.
