VAR set to be used at 2018 World Cup following landmark rule change

The video assistant referees (VAR) system is set to be used at this summer’s World Cup in Russia after football’s lawmakers voted on Saturday to approve the use of the officiating technology.

The officiating system was sanctioned when the International Football Association Board voted unanimously to introduce VAR on a permanent basis in a “landmark” decision that’s expected to be implemented across the football world.

It is expected the FIFA Council meeting on March 16 will confirm the use of VAR at the World Cup.

A statement from IFAB, which is made up of the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, as well as FIFA, read: “This landmark meeting, chaired by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, represents a new era for football with video assistance for referees helping to increase integrity and fairness in the game.”

IFAB began experimenting with VAR – which applies the use of a philosophy intended for “minimum interference – maximum benefit” – in March 2016 to identify its usefulness in reducing unfairness caused by obvious errors and incidents missed by the match official.

The officiating system will be used to overturn errors involving goals, penalty awards, red cards, and mistaken identity.

“As of today, video assistant refereeing is part of football,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said, according to Richard Conway of BBC Sport.

“We hope and encourage a favourable decision in this respect because we are very positive about VAR.”

Germany and Italy implemented the use of VAR ahead of the current season, while Spain and France’s top flights will introduce the technology for the 2018-19 season.

Meanwhile, Premier League clubs in England reportedly decided to delay the introduction of VAR until at least the 2019-20 campaign.