Explanations of video-assisted refereeing (VAR) decisions at the 2023 Women’s World Cup will be broadcast, both in stadiums and live on television, Pierluigi Collina, chair of FIFA’s referees committee, said on Tuesday.
The aim is to make the VAR decision process “more transparent,” he said.
VAR will be used for the first time at a major tournament during the World Cup, which kicks off in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday. It had been tested at the Club World Cup in Morocco this year and during the U20 World Cup in Argentina last month.
According to Pierluigi Collina, the trials were conclusive. “We want to give more transparency and a better understanding of refereeing decisions,” FIFA’s head of refereeing explained.
“The referees present in Sydney have already tried out the public address system on the training pitches and everything is going well,” he added. “We are convinced that this new tool will be very positive.”
During World Cup matches, referees will be able to consult a screen on the edge of the pitch before explaining their decision, the reason for it and the players involved, and give a brief description of the situation to the public via a microphone attached to their shirt.
But one concern persists on the referees’ side, admitted Pierluigi Collina. They will all have to explain their decisions in English, even those whose mother tongue is not English, which puts them under extra pressure. “In any situation, there are arguments for and against,” said Collina. “We will then discuss what is best for the future.”
Referees have also been instructed to limit the loss of effective playing time during this World Cup.
