VAR to be introduced in all UEFA tournaments starting from 2019-20

The move comes after a successful debut of the technology at the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Union of European Football Associations on Thursday unanimously decided on the introduction of Video-Assistant Referee technology in UEFA events starting from 2019-20. UEFA Champions League will become the first tournament to use the feature from the playoff round preceding the group stage of the Champions League. The decision had been taken at a meeting of their executive committee.

It will also be used in next year’s UEFA Super Cup, followed by Euro 2020 and then the Europa League 2020-21. In addition, it will be used in the finals of the new Nations League competition, although only from 2021.

The move comes after a successful debut of this technology in FIFA World Cup 2018, producing the cleanest edition of the quadrennial event ever.

“We’re confident that introducing VAR in August 2019 will give us enough time to put in place a robust system and to train match officials to ensure an efficient, successful implementation of VAR in the UEFA Champions League, the world’s flagship club competition,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said.

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UEFA were meeting at their Swiss headquarters ahead of the announcement later of the winning bid to host Euro 2024, with Germany and Turkey competing for the right to organise the tournament.

VAR has also been introduced in the top divisions in Spain and France this season, with those leagues following on from the German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A, although the English Premier League has been more cautious.