DUBLIN: The UEFA Executive Committee (EC) Monday met in Dublin and decided to use Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in the UEFA Champions League as from the Round of 16 in February 2019 following successful technological testing and the training of referees over the last few months.
In addition, the committee decided to also use VAR at the Europa League Final, Nations Leagues Finals in Portugal and in the final tournament of the European Under-21 Championship, all of which are scheduled to take place next year. UEFA still plans to subsequently extend the use of VAR at the final tournament of the Euro 2020, in the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League (group stage onwards), and in the 2021 Nations League Finals.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, said: “We are ready to use VAR earlier than initially planned and we are convinced that it will be beneficial for our competitions as it will provide valuable help to match officials and will allow to reduce incorrect decisions.”
The UEFA EC also approved the proposal of the European Leagues to appoint Mathieu Moreuil of the Premier League as one of the four representatives of the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council, replacing Javier Tebas of La Liga for the remainder of his term until 2019.
The next meeting of the UEFA EC is scheduled for 6 February 2019 in Rome, Italy, on the eve of the 43rd UEFA Ordinary Congress.
