Women seek VAR for ’19 tournament

MOSCOW — Female players have an equal right to have FIFA use video review for their tournament next year in France, U.S. women’s soccer Coach Jill Ellis said Wednesday.

FIFA is using video assistant referees for the men’s World Cup for the first time this year, and it has led to several key call reversals and an increase in penalty kicks.

“I can’t see them not having it. I think it would be a little bit insulting if we weren’t afforded the same opportunity,” Ellis said during a round-table discussion with American reporters. “There’s too much at stake to not have it, and I think our game, our passion, our drive, our motivation is at the same level as the men.”

Ellis, who coached the Americans to the 2015 Women’s World Cup title, maintains video review could be even more significant in the women’s game than it is for the men.

“With all the men’s leagues around the world, you’ve got more referees getting more into the higher-level experience. We don’t have that many leagues, so we have to, I think, add another layer to the decision-making process,” she said.

FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura, the highest-ranking woman in world soccer, did not respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Ellis, born in Britain, came to Russia to appear on a Fox studio show and planned to attend England’s semifinal match against Croatia. FIFA has done little-to-no promotion of the Women’s World Cup during the men’s tournament.