Match officials explaining VAR decisions live to stadiums and television audiences for Women’s World Cup games will make the process “more transparent”, Fifa’s referee chief Pierluigi Collina said on Tuesday.
After being tested at the men's Club World Cup in Morocco this year and the men's U20 World Cup in Argentina last month, the idea will be implemented at a major tournament for the first time when the World Cup kicks off on Thursday.
The Fifa Referees Committee's Collina informed reporters that the trials had received encouraging response.
“We want to give more transparency, more understanding of the decision made by the referee,” the Italian said.
Did you read this?
“The referees here in Sydney have already practised at the training grounds using the PA system, and things are going well.
“We are very confident this new tool will be very positive.”
Fans have long called for more transparency over VAR (video assistant referee) decisions.
In order to communicate their judgment, the reasoning behind it, the players involved, and a brief summary of the incident through the PA system via a microphone on their shirt, match officials at the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia will first consult a screen on the side of the pitch.
With referees forced to explain in English, which many do not speak as their first language, Collina acknowledged some anxiety.
“In anything there are pros and cons,” he said. “After we will discuss and consider what is best for the future.”
Additionally, referees have been instructed to crack down on timewasting throughout the World Cup.
