var to be used in champions league .....last 16 onwards

The UEFA Champions League knockout phase kicks off in a week’s time - and UEFA has met the clubs involved to explain the video assistant referee (VAR) system that will be used from the Round of 16, which starts next Tuesday.

UEFA invited representatives of the 16 clubs remaining in this season’s competition - coaches, coaching staff and club delegates - to a meeting in Frankfurt to brief them on the system, which is designed to help referees in their decision-making process.

VAR is being introduced in the UEFA Champions League from next week following successful technological testing and the training of referees over the last few months. The system, incorporated into the Laws of the Game last year, sees a video assistant referee review decisions made by the referee in certain key match situations with the use of video footage and a headset for communication.

Coaches and senior representatives from the Champions League Round of 16 participants took part in a presentation from UEFA’s Chief Refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti, who advised them about the workings of the system, in which a VAR team – a video assistant referee, an assistant video assistant referee and two video operators – will be located at each stadium to support the referee and help the match official take correct decisions.

Rosetti explained that the VAR team will constantly check for clear and obvious errors related to the following four match-changing situations: Goals, penalty decisions, direct red card incidents and mistaken identity. The Italian expressed UEFA’s confidence that VAR will represent a crucial tool for referees in the future.

“It was very important for us to speak directly with the clubs,” said Rosetti, “to explain to them how we are planning to use VAR in the UEFA Champions League competition, and how we have prepared the referees for this.”

“It is essential that everyone understands when the VAR can intervene, but also understands when the VAR does not intervene. There were good discussions, and the feedback we have received was very positive.”

“We are convinced that VAR will be beneficial,” Rosetti continued, “as it will provide match officials with valuable help, allowing them to reduce clearly incorrect decisions - which is ultimately good for the clubs, the players, the coaches, the fans, the referees and the competition.”

In addition to the UEFA Champions League, VAR will be used at this season's UEFA Europa League final in Baku, the UEFA Nations League Finals in Portugal in June and the UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament in Italy in the same month.

It will then be deployed at the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, and UEFA plans to subsequently extend the use of VAR to the UEFA EURO 2020 final tournament, as well as in the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League from the group stage onwards.

Not a fan of VAR from an entertainment point of view, but this is a good move in terms of merit, its the ultimate club football competition but so often teams go out through poor decisions of red cards, penalties and of course offside. Luck has previously has played too big a part

lets also hope the linesmen can keep their flags down for close calls, you see too many still trying to be clever and getting it wrong on tight calls

hope so ryder, and then for fans to accept he has kept flag down because
it was close, not that he got it wrong!

rider

could be embarassing if the linos are used from last night, stevie wonder and ray charles.

I bet there will be more goals ruled out than created by VAR.  Over the last couple of weeks I've seen at least 6 that would not have counted.  Last night's Liverpool goal would definitely not have stood and probably Aguero's third would have been deemed hand ball on Sunday.  I know we will never know, but I reckon Ramos would have been sent off in the CL final for knocking out Karius and maybe Liverpool lift the cup instead.

I'm not so sure there will be less goals Ian, especially if they penalise shirt pulling. We've all seen many occasions where a goal 'may' have been scored if a player wasn't undeniably held back

Disappointing it won't be use to root out diving.

But then again I imagine the Spanish would have thrown their toys out of the pram.

If it is used for holding at corners they'll be a rash of penalties the first night.

having bet on several var games  I shudder at the thought of it in the prem league

will be used to get the bigger clubs out of trouble

Clear and obvious error ha ha yeh right !    look forward to endless slow motion replays until they spot the attackers big toe is offside and chalk off said goal.

UEFA have said that anyone making the VAR sign will be booked and that they want the ref to check the pitchside monitor every time but they don't want 3 or 4 interruptions per match. If the likes of Real Madrid are in trouble they'll be scouring the monitors in the VAR room to help them out. They've already had some dodgy decisions in the last few years.

ramos will be in his element

The offside incidents are open to abuse,when the exact time the ball is played forward is controlled by the TV company,the centimeters of the attackers boot can be manipulated to show any eventuality they want.

VAR should be about clear and obvious mistakes like this

https://www.sport-english.com/en/news/gerard-piques-ambiguous-tweet-about-ronaldos-offside-5981083

Is it not the case that FIFA/UEFA have their own cameras at the match when VAR is in use?

The offside incidents are open to abuse,when the exact time the ball is played forward is controlled by the TV company,the centimeters of the attackers boot can be manipulated to show any eventuality they want.

I totally agree.  The VAR ref can move the video back or forward by one frame to make it look offside or not, you can't tell the exact moment the ball leaves the attacker's boot.

Ian,you mention last seasons CL regarding Ramos,did you not watch home and away games v ManCity

What incidents are you referring to dervish? I'm not a Liverpool fan by the way, just picking one example that springs to mind.

The offside onside goals one given at Anfield Citys not given 2nd leg,was var used in both legs?