A statement from the FIGC and AIA confirms that Serie A will have one centralised VAR room from the 2020-21 season.
This would be similar to the system adopted during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, whereas currently each VAR booth is separate and either in or just outside the stadium.
The VAR room will be based at the Coverciano training ground, the centre of Italy’s football formation where the national team prepares for games, coaches get their badges and referees go on educational courses.
A statement from the FIGC and AIA confirms that Serie A will have one centralised VAR room from the 2020-21 season.
This would be similar to the system adopted during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, whereas currently each VAR booth is separate and either in or just outside the stadium.
The VAR room will be based at the Coverciano training ground, the centre of Italy’s football formation where the national team prepares for games, coaches get their badges and referees go on educational courses.
So far, that room has been used to help prepare officials for VAR, but it will now be a centralised hub where the top officials can keep a close eye on any controversial or unclear incidents.
It is hoped this will give more uniformity to the decision-making process.
The referee on the pitch will still naturally have the ability to view any footage on the monitor and communicate with the VAR hub.
There is another intriguing addition to the statement, which notes this will also be the place where the referees can, if necessary, explain why certain decisions were made.