LONDON COLNEY, England, Nov 20 - Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has thrown his weight behind calls for referees to use video technology, saying that failing to use TV replays was like refusing to use electricity.

The issue is back on the agenda after Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes and Watford's Adrian Boothroyd called for technology to be used in the wake of controversies last weekend.

Asked if he backed the use of replays by referees, Wenger told a news conference on Monday: "I agree. It's a position I've defended for a long time but some people refuse progress.

"It's like saying we don't want to play with electricity -- we want to play night games with torches."

Wenger, whose team face Hamburg SV in the Champions League on Tuesday, said: "I feel that refusing progress is difficult to defend. You want the right decision to be taken.

"Now, every game, every decision of the referee is analysed on television and the only one in the whole game who has no access to the video, and the right picture, is the referee.

"I don't find it right.

"But what is even more surprising is that the referees don't want to use it. It's amazing."

Wenger's comments echoed those made by Hughes, whose team had a penalty appeal turned down in their stormy Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

"I've never been an advocate of technology but sooner rather than later they should bring it in," Hughes said.

"When huge decisions at the top level have an impact on teams, management and players then something has to be done."

Boothroyd gave his backing to technology for referees after his side's defeat by Portsmouth on Saturday.