Video assistant referee (VAR) technology will be used in the Champions League from next season, UEFA has announced.
The European governing body revealed VAR would be used in the 2019-20 competition from the play-off stage onward, as well as at the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, the Euro 2020 finals, the Europa League group stage from the 2020-21 season and the 2021 Nations League finals.
The decision was made by the UEFA executive committee at a meeting in Nyon, Switzerland on Thursday morning.
It is hoped VAR will help clear up contentious decisions in Europe’s leading club competition, like Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card last week.
The Portuguese was sent off during their 2-0 win in Valencia after an off-the-ball clash with Jeison Murillo. He appeared to pull Murillo’s hair in an attempt to lift him off the ground and the Valencia players protested to the fifth official behind the goal.
Referee Felix Brych consulted his colleague before producing the red card for Ronaldo, who reacted by collapsing to the turf in tears and had to be consoled by staff as he made his way down the tunnel.
VAR is already used in a host of European leagues with technology implemented across the Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga.
England’s Carabao Cup is using VAR in all fixtures held at a Premier League grounds this season.
And it came in for criticism from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after his side’s 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday night, with the Blues’ equaliser allowed to stand following a video review.
‘I don’t think I have the Liverpool glasses on my nose – I would say it’s offside’, Klopp said.
Technology was also used heavily during this summer’s World Cup and went off largely without controversy.
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