CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DEBUT
Rome, Feb. 11: Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has warned that there will be no more excuses as Video Assistant Referees make their debut in the Champions League starting this week.
The system which was used during last year’s Fifa World Cup, and is now widely called upon in most of Europe’s leading leagues, was initially set to be rolled out in the Champions League from the start of next season.
However, it will now make its debut six months earlier than anticipated.
“If we can do it before, why not” pondered Ceferin of an initiative which had been opposed by his predecessor, Michel Platini.
The decision to bring forward its use follows l o b b y i n g from top c l u b s including Juventus, whose chairman, Andrea Agnelli, is also president of the powerful European Club Association, a union of the continent’s biggest teams.
The Italian was furious after the Turin giants were dumped out of the Champions League last season by a late Real Madrid penalty.
“We cannot go back, we want VAR to be adopted in Uefa competitions as soon as possible,” demanded Agnelli.
Other top European coaches have also welcomed its arrival, with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola s a y i n g :
“Welcome
... I’m so d e l i g h t - ed”. Manchester United players at a training session in Manchester on Monday, the eve of their Champions League last 16 first leg match against Paris Saint- Germain.