VAR on its way to La Liga

MADRID: Spain’s La Liga will use the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system next season, the country’s football federation (RFEF) confirmed on Wednesday.

“The president of the referee’s technical commission, Victoriano Sanchez Arminio, has informed all first division referees and assistant referees that video refereeing will be introduced to next season’s championship,” the RFEF said.

Sanchez Arminio said in a letter to referees that “the tests required by the International Football Association Board [the guardians of the game’s rules] to implement the system will soon begin”.

Spanish League president Javier Tebas had revealed on Wednesday that VAR would be used from 2018/2019, as it has been in Italy and Germany this season.

It can only be used under specific conditions: in the awarding of a red card, a penalty or to correct a case of mistaken identity for a carded player.

Currently, Spain is the only one of Europe’s five major leagues — the others being England, Germany, Italy and France — not to use technology of any sort, not even to decide if a ball has crossed the goal line.

MASCHERANO OUT FOR A MONTH

Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano will be sidelined for a month with a thigh injury he suffered in Argentina’s friendly international against Nigeria, the club said on Wednesday.

Mascherano played the full 90 minutes in his country’s surprise 4-2 loss to the Nigerians in the Russian city of Krasnodar on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Mascherano will miss Barca’s final Champions League group games against Juventus on Nov 22 and then Sporting Lisbon on Dec 5.