(Photo by Paolo Rattini/Getty Images)
Video assistant referees will be used for the first time at the World Cup after theFIFA approved the use of the replay technology at this year’s tournament.
The decision was announced on Friday following a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council chaired by President Gianni Infantino. It comes around two weeks after the International Football Association Board “unanimously approved” the introduction of VAR on a permanent basis.
“We need to live with the times,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The video assistant referee has been first introduced during the 2016 Club World Cup in Japan and since then it has been used in several competitions, most notably the FA Cup, the Bundesliga and the Serie A.
“We wanted to give the referees tools so they can make better decisions, and in the World Cup some very important decisions are made.
“It’s not possible that in 2018 everyone in their living room knows a few seconds after the play whether a referee has made a mistake and the referee doesn’t,” he added.
The World Cup is set to kick off on June 14. Egypt, who were able to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, were drawn in Group A alongside hosts Russia, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.
