Following trials, the International Football Association Board(IFAB) unanimously gave an approval nod for Video Assistant Referees(VAR) to be used at the World Cup 2018. But at the time, the issue was if FIFA will officially approve it.
Even though he expressed positivity about the technology, FIFA President Gianni Infantino reportedly said the decision for VAR at the World Cup 2018 in Russia will be made at the next Council meeting in Colombia on the 16 March.
Suggested read: There will be a video referee at the 2018 World Cup
The video assistant referee (VAR) is a football assistant referee who reviews decisions made by the head referee with the use of video footage and a headset for communication.
According to IFAB, the VARs are geared towards ‘minimum interference – maximum benefit’ which aims to reduce unfairness caused by errors or incidents in relation to; goal or no goal, penalty or no penalty, direct red card, mistaken player identity on the referee’s part.
FIFA apparently did approve the VARs as it’s set to make its World Cup debut at the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
The video assisted referees will be in an office inside a secret location but regardless of the fact that this positions seem not to be physically tasking, a report says they will be decked out in the full kit; top, shorts and socks.
On why the VARs had to wear a full kit, Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, said they will still sweat like they do on the pitch.
The World Cup 2018 kicks off in Russia today, if you are too busy to fully follow the competition here is a list of 7 mobile apps to stay updated.
