FIFA are currently testing an ambitious VAR move that could be seen at Celtic Park one day.
The governing body’s Women’s World Cup got underway in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, and the opening match offered the perfect early test.
FIFA are using the competition to see if referees announcing VAR decisions to the crowd can work.
As explained in an ESPN article, New Zealand were leading Norway in the closing stages of their opener, when Malia Steinmetz’s cross hit a Norwegian defender’s arm in the box.
Initially, referee Yoshimi Yamashita played on before being called for a VAR review. When it emerged that a foul had taken place, Yamashita awarded the penalty.
Via a microphone she told the crowd: “After an on-field review the decision is penalty.” You can watch the incident in this BBC Sport tweet.
As ESPN’s Dale Johnson explains in his article, the decision was about as easy a VAR one as you’re likely to find. Even then, it seems like the crowd were too busy cheering to hear what the referee said.
That may be one of the pitfalls of the plan, which is an ambitious one.
The system was also used in the Club World Cup in January. If it’s successful it is likely to be brought in by UEFA and then Scottish football.
Given how the governing bodies often like to proceed with shiny new ideas it seems probable that we will see this system, or something similar, at Celtic Park one day.
The idea is that it gives fans inside the stadium and at home a better idea of the reasoning behind a decision.
New television broadcasters TNT Sports are also said to be pushing for greater transparency with VAR (Independent) so that’s another road that football could go down in the coming years.
An explanation for some of the decisions that went against us last season would be mildly amusing.
In other news, reported Celtic transfer target Maik Nawrocki has been asked about his future already this summer
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