The UEFA Executive Committee has confirmed that Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be used in the UEFA Champions League, from the Round of 16 in February 2019.
The decision comes after successful technological testing and the training of referees over the last few months.
In addition, the committee decided to also use VAR at the UEFA Europa League Final 2019, in the UEFA Nations Leagues Finals 2019 and in the final tournament of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2019.
As already decided during the September meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee, VAR will then also be used in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League, as of the play-off stage of the competition, and at the 2019 UEFA Super Cup. UEFA still plans to subsequently extend the use of VAR at the final tournament of UEFA EURO 2020, in the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League (group-stage onwards), and in the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, commented: “We are ready to use VAR earlier than initially planned and we are convinced that it will be beneficial for our competitions as it will provide valuable help to match officials and will allow to reduce incorrect decisions.”
Manchester City Manager, Pep Guardiola already expressed his happiness at he decision, emphasising that he’s “delighted” with the news, adding that he looks forward to its implementation in the England.
The technology has also been confirmed for the Premier League next season, after successful trials in English domestic competitions.
The UEFA Executive Committee also officially appointed the hosts for various competitions as follows:
• 2018/19 UEFA Nations League Finals – Portugal – 5 to 9 June 2019
• UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 – England – July 2021
• 2019/21 UEFA Under-21 Championship final tournament – Hungary/Slovenia – June 2021
• 2018/19 UEFA Futsal Champions League finals – Kairat Almaty, Kazakhstan – 25 to 28 April 2019
