Spain’s Gerard Deulofeu scored one and created another but had to share the limelight with the video assistant referee in a 2-0 friendly win over France in Paris on…
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Spain’s Gerard Deulofeu scored one and created another but had to share the limelight with the video assistant referee in a 2-0 friendly win over France in Paris on Tuesday.
Football’s world governing body, FIFA, has been using video assistant referees on a trial basis since last year and this was the first time that the extra official was used in a football match in France.
“The result would have been different without the video assistant referee because our first goal was eventually chalked off and Spain’s second goal stood,” explained France coach Didier Deschamps. “It is the evolution of football and I think there will always be a debate around this.”
While some praised the speed with which the decisions were taken, others remain unconvinced that video technology belongs in football.
According to reports, plans are in place to introduce video assistant referees to English football as early as next season, while the World Cup in Russia in 2018 could be the first major tournament in which it is used.
VAR used during Spain v France pic.twitter.com/S6wSJGRL0b
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) March 29, 2017