FIFA increases referees for World Cup

 ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- World soccer's governing body, FIFA, is increasing the number of referees and equipping them with new uniforms and electronic aids for next year's World Cup finals.
 But, there will be no-high tech changes to the all-important referee's whistle.
 FIFA's Referees' Committee said Tuesday it will appoint 33 referees and 34 assistants for the 64 matches in France. This compares with 24 referees and 22 assistants for the 52 matches in the United States in 1994.
 The committee also approved the use of a special electronic board to announce substitutions.
 And it said all referees should be given new uniforms, although the existing purple-black color will remain unchanged.
 "But the choice of the most important instrument for the referee, his whistle, will remain strictly personal and no official whistle will be introduced," FIFA said in a statement.