FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hailed use of video replays in Italy’s 3-1 defeat to France as “a new page in the history of this sport”.
VAR was trialled in the Bari friendly for the first time ever, and Infantino believes the technology was a resounding success as he looked to the 2018 World Cup as a potential competition where it made its official bow.
“Last night, a new page in the history of this sport was written,” he was quoted as saying by La Reppublica.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hailed use of video replays in Italy’s 3-1 defeat to France as “a new page in the history of this sport”.
VAR was trialled in the Bari friendly for the first time ever, and Infantino believes the technology was a resounding success as he looked to the 2018 World Cup as a potential competition where it made its official bow.
“Last night, a new page in the history of this sport was written,” he was quoted as saying by La Reppublica.
“At last, after so many years of words, we’ve moved to the facts. We carried out this test for VAR and the help of the referees. We’ll see, but if they’re roses then they’ll bloom.
“I thank the FIGC and [Carlo] Tavecchio for their availability and support, RAI [TV], the French Football Federation and the officials who did a great job.
“It was a very positive experience. We love football and we have to protect it and help referees without distorting the football itself.
“We can no longer allow the whole world to see an important phase of play, and that the only one who can’t see it is the referee.
“We’ll see if we can help the referee without distorting the game, but if we don’t do the tests then we’ll never know if it will work. We’ll carry on until 2018, then the IFAB will decide.”