Repetitions in Video Set to Debut in World Cup
Repetitions in video will be applied in a World Cup for the first time and currently FIFA is negotiating with potential sponsors for the use of advertising during the broadcasts while using such technology in Russia, said an executive from the world football governing body on Monday.
The football rule-making panel met to evaluate recent tests before the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is officially approved by FIFA for the World Cup in Russia, to be held in June and July.
"VAR will definitely happen," said FIFA's commercial director, Philippe Le Floc'h, to The Associated Press. "It's great to have technology in football because it's also a matter of being fair."
Referees received assistance for the first time in a World Cup in 2014 when technological resources were used in the goal area. That system sends an immediate message to the referees' watches to indicate if the ball crossed the goal line or not.
Video replay could cause game delays in Russia since a play is analyzed from different angles, which presents an opportunity for FIFA to promote different brands during that segment in the global television broadcast.
"We are talking to several technological companies that are very interested in what we are doing regarding the technological side of things," emphasized Floc'h aboard the FIFA World Cup trophy tour plane during a stop in London.
The final decision on allowing replays to become part of the game rules rests with the International Football Association Board on March 2, when it holds its annual meeting at FIFA headquarters.
Video replays are used when there is a "clear and obvious error" involving goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity of a player.