Italian football continues to set the pace when it comes to the fusion of technology and football after it was revealed that country will play host to the world’s first Video Assistant Referee (VAR) training centre.

The VAR training centre, which includes a simulator, will take off as from January 2018.

The much talked about technology had earlier been introduced to the Italian Serie A this season.

VAR technology was also introduced to the German Bundesliga at the start of this season, while Spanish La Liga and French Ligue 1 will follow suit next season.

The Coverciano training ground near Florence already serves as both host to the Italy squad and the assigning of coaching badges.

It will become the world’s first permanent centre for the formation and training of VAR.

The centre will include a simulator that allows officials from Italy and all other parts of the world to hone their skills through the use of the new technology.

The centre will be managed by former referee, Roberto Rosetti.

Rosetti has been developing the technology since its inception and was picked as VAR Project Leader by FIFA for international tournaments.