Champions League to bring in VAR this season
Uefa will today rubber-stamp plans to fast-track the use of video assistant referees for the knockout rounds of this season’s Champions League. VAR will be used from the last 16 through to the final and also at the Nations League finals, in which England are involved, in Portugal next June.
The governing body’s executive committee, which meets today in Dublin, is understood to be satisfied with the technology following its use at the World Cup in Russia.
The system, which is to be introduced in the Premier League next season, has undergone a series of successful trials in recent weeks to iron out any uncertainties. Uefa was handed a report on Italy’s friendly against the United States last month.
The German Bundesliga and Serie A in Italy both already have VAR, while the Premier League has made a formal request to the International Football Association Board and Fifa, the world governing body, to use it next season.
The absence of VAR, which has been criticised in the Premier League this season, notably by Southampton’s Charlie Austin, was also highlighted in the Champions League when Raheem Sterling was awarded a penalty for Manchester City against Shakhtar Donetsk, despite replays showing he had stubbed a foot in the turf.
Uefa sources said the Sterling incident was unrelated to the fasttrack decision.
Aleksander Ceferin, the Uefa president, previously said at a press conference with European Club Association president Andrea Agnelli that next season would be “the latest for VAR”.
Agnelli, who is chairman of Juventus, responded, saying: “The latest next season also means there is space for earlier implementation.” After Ceferin nodded, Agnelli added: “We are delighted as clubs for that and we thank Uefa for the work they’ve been putting together.”
Uefa’s executive committee last night confirmed its third European club tournament would be launched in 2021
One English club will qualify each year for the new format, which will feature 32 teams in a group stage.
The winner of the new contest, to encourage clubs from smaller countries, will be qualify for the following season’s Europa League.