FIFA today rejected a proposal to have the experimental system of having five referees involved in every match fast-tracked for next summer's World Cup in South Africa.

However, there will be an inquiry into whether technology or extra officials should be brought in in a bid to avoid controversy such as Thierry Henry's handball in the build-up to France's crucial strike in their play-off against the Republic of Ireland.

The system of extra assistant referees behind each goal-line has been trialled in this season's Europa League, but Hodgson has seen no evidence of a dramatic improvement in key decision-making.

Indeed, the Cottagers have themselves been on the wrong end of some controversial calls - denied what looked at a couple of clear penalty claims away to CSKA Sofia while having two men sent off at Roma, with defender Stephen Kelly also seeing red in the home tie against the Italians where a last-minute away goal denied them victory.

Hodgson - whose side host CSKA tomorrow night looking to keep alive hope of qualifying from Group E - believes simply having someone look at a replay on a monitor would be no quick fix.

"One of the hardest jobs on the football field is that of a referee," said the Fulham manager.

"The standard of refereeing today compared to 30 years ago is much, much better. I don't really understand this unbelievable search for perfection.

"When I first started playing, we had no way of checking these things - and a linesman made a decision in 1966 which certainly worked in our favour.

"Maybe these things have always existed, we just did not know about them.

"The major problem today is the consequences of what, unfortunately, turns out to be a bad decision, and it is pretty obvious what those were in terms of Ireland against France."

Hodgson added: "It said with technology that all our problems would be over, but it is not even as simple as that.

"We have just got to constantly strive to get to a situation where a referee makes as few mistakes as possible, constantly work on them in terms of their understanding of the game and their fitness and I really think that is happening.

"An area that could be debated is whether players themselves, when something has gone diabolically wrong, could help the referee out and not just keep their mouths shut.

"If one of our players gets fouled in the box and it is clear to him that he wasn't fouled and was just unbalanced he could tell the referee not to award a penalty."

Hodgson is not convinced the experiment of extra officials has made a great difference in the Europa League.

He said: "If you are asking me from your personal experience, have you seen better decisions in penalty areas thanks to extra referees, I would say no I haven't.

"In the very, very important penalty area situations which have occurred, and there are four very clear ones where you think that extra officials could help the referee make a good decision, bad decisions have been made."

Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy is set to return tomorrow night following a six-week absence with a knee problem.

It is a welcome boost for the Cottagers, who have Erik Nevland, Paul Konchesky and Jonathan Greening all suspended, while the likes of Eddie Johnson, Seol Ki-Hyeon and Kagisho Dikgacoi are not eligible.

"Danny won't come straight back and hit the ground running, he needs the match practice," Hodgson said.

"But he is looking forward to it, is mechanically fit and wants to get back in the saddle."

Fulham are currently third in the group, with five points from four matches.

However, victory over the Bulgarians tomorrow and then away to Basle could still see them reach the next stage.

"I have got to be fairly happy with being mid-table in the Premier League and still being in with a shout of getting through in the Europe," said Hodgson.

"We have given some good performances in Europe.

"Some of the fringe players have grown in stature and are knocking on the door of the first team."