2019-20 Champions League, Euro 2020 to have VAR
The UEFA has stated that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is set to be introduced in Champions League from 2019-20 season alongside the European Championship in 2020. The UEFA's executive committee held a meeting where the same was decided. The VAR in the Champions League will start early from the playoff round itself. Here is more on the same.
Which all European competitions would be using VAR?
Besides the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup too will have VAR next season. The second-tier Europa League will see use of VAR from 2020-21 season. Meanwhile, the UEFA Nations League will see the implementation of the technology in the finals from 2021. The VAR was used in the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia and was declared successful.
UEFA hopes for successful implementation of VAR
The UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said to AFP, the introduction of VAR in 2019 will make things robust. "We're confident that introducing VAR in August 2019 will give us enough time to put in place a robust system and to train match officials to ensure an efficient, successful implementation of VAR in the UEFA Champions League, the world's flagship club competition."
Several European nations are using VAR
VAR has already been running in the Bundesliga in Germany and Serie A in Italy. Now La Liga in Spain and Ligue 1 in France too have introduced the same. The Premier League is a bit cautious regarding the technology as of now.
How does a VAR function?
A VAR team supports the match officials during games. With help of cameras, they keep an eye and consult the on-field referee via headset to go about decisions. The referee consults the VAR team if he needs help in taking the right decision in certain incidents. The VAR team reviews the footage and guides the referee. Referees can themselves check the footage as well.
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