FIFA Takes Huge VAR Step For Women’s World Cup

The use of VAR at the Women’s World Cup has been recommended by the FIFA panel overseeing Women’s World Cup preparations.

Both heads of FIFA and UEFA Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Ceferin are strong backers of the plan.

FIFA’s ruling council at a Miami meeting next week, will approve the use of video assistants to help women referees at the Women’s World Cup in France.

As no domestic women’s competition uses VAR, the video assistant referees will likely include men helping advise all-female teams of referees and assistants.

Some male referees with VAR experience at the 2018 World Cup in Russia took part in trials at a boys’ youth tournament in Qatar last month with Women’s World Cup match officials.

“The tests were quite positive,” Infantino said. “I would of course wish that we do use VAR at the Women’s World Cup.”

U.S. women’s national team coach Jill Ellis commended the decision to introduce VAR in the upcoming tournament.

“It’s great news. I think everyone in our sport realised it was such a positive, and to have now the same access to the same technology, I think it’s great,” Ellis said.

“It’s going to be an intense World Cup and I think having the benefit of VAR is important.”