The IFAB announced a 12-month trial of international tournaments in January following a recommendation made in October 2022. After successful trials at the FIFA Club World Cup and the Men’s Under-20 World Cup, officials decided this summer’s tournament in Australia will be broadcast over the loudspeaker system at New Zealand Stadium.
It’s an engagement method already seen in the NFL, and at this summer’s tournament, spectators and those watching on TV will get an explanation of key decisions influenced by VAR through a microphone to the referee.
This will include cases where VAR intervenes to overturn decisions, whether citing a possible red card, a penalty or disallowing a goal for offside or foul play.
It is the first time this approach will be adopted by a Tier One FIFA tournament, but sources told ESPN that the aim is to improve transparency in key decisions made during the competition.
An example would be when VAR intervenes to warn the referee of possible foul play. If the VAR advises the referee to view the incident on the pitchside monitor and the referee decides to take action, they will explain the reason for the crowding.
Speaking in February, FIFA Referee Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina said: “We decided to do this trial because we received some requests to make the referee’s decision more understandable for all football stakeholders after VAR intervention. Spectators in the stadium or in front of the television.”
He added: “I have to say that in American football there are other experiences in other sports called the NFL, who have been doing it for a long time. It seems that the referees are quite comfortable with it.”
Colina said that while FIFA is considering using this method of communication at the Women’s World Cup, it is dependent on the success of the trial at other tournaments.
