FIFA to trial 'live communication' of VAR decisions

At its Annual Business Meeting (AGM) held at Wembley Stadium in London on 18th January, IFAB (International Football Association Board) followed up on the recommendations made by its Football and Technical Advisory Panels from October last year.

They agreed that referees' live communication of video assistant referee (VAR)-related decisions to the public - both in the stadium and via broadcasters - would be trialled for 12 months in international competitions, and that it would initially be rolled out at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, which began on 1st February.

Chairman of FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, hoped that this will make VAR interventions more understandable for spectators and the 62-year-old felt that such developments were "definitely positive" for the game.