December 15 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s determination to have video technology introduced before next year’s World Cup has taken a further knock with a spokesman for the game’s law making body questioning the system’s efficacity, especially in Germany where it is being trialled along with several other leagues.
The International FA Board will decide in early March whether to give the green light to Video Assistant Referees (VARs) but findings of the initial test phase suggest an over-reliance on the technology.
“We are trying something completely new so no referee wants to make a mistake and perhaps goes to the video assistant once too often,” IFAB chief Lukas Brud told German outlet Kicker. “We have to work on international uniformity. It’s a matter of education and experience.”
Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Christoph Kramer is the latest Bundesliga star to express his frustration at the use of VARs.
Gladbach’s recent games against Schalke and Freiburg were both marred by controversial interventions and Kramer was particularly annoyed by the match-winning penalty awarded to Freiburg following a 70-second delay on Wednesday evening.
“It’s getting on my nerves,” the 26-year-old told Sky.
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