UEFA agrees to use VAR in this season’s Champions League knockout rounds from February

UEFA agrees to use VAR in this season’s Champions League knockout rounds from February
UEFA has confirmed that video assistant referees will be used in the Champions League knockout stages this season but it will be done with a twist from European football’s governing body.VAR has been in use in some countries since 2016 after world football’s rule-making body IFAB first approved guidelinesfor the use of video replays and started a two-year pilot scheme.3

VAR was also used at the 2018 World Cup and played a big part in the tournament’s final

Once that was completed, world football’s governing body FIFA decided to use VAR at this summer’s World Cup in Russia, where it was widely considered to be a success.UEFA, however, initially decided to wait for at least another season before rolling out the system in its competitions – a stance shared by the Premier League.

---

Charlie Austin’s sensational ‘Parklife’ rant calling for VAR to be used in the Premier League

---

But at a meeting of its executive committee in Dublin on Monday that approach was ditched and it was confirmed that VAR will also be used in the 2019 Europa League final and next summer’s European Under-21 Championship and Nations League Finals, which both feature England.3

England will have the benefit of VAR when they take part in the Nations League finals next summer

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: “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.”Looking further ahead, VAR will be used in all Champions League games, from the play-off stage onward, next season and at the 2019 UEFA Super Cup. UEFA is also still planning to use VAR at Euro 2020, the 2021 Nations Leagues and from the group stages of the 2020/21 Europa League.How UEFA will use VAR, however, will be revealed in January but it is clear the confederation believes the process can be improved.Asked by reporters if this meant UEFA’s VAR would be a variation on the system used at the World Cup, Ceferin said: “Not a variation, a clarification. “Our opinion is that it was not clarified enough before: fans didn’t know what was happening, players didn’t know, we didn’t know.“So we have discussed it with our experts and if we can do it earlier (than originally planned) to avoid mistakes, why wait?”UEFA’s chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti explained that the European idea would still be based on the protocol established earlier this year by IFAB but he said it would be influenced by “internal guidelines, too”.3

The definition of a clear and obvious mistake was a source of confusion at times when VAR was being used at the World Cup

Rosetti added: “The main concept of the IFAB protocol is the idea of a crucial, clear and obvious mistake. This is the main point. We want consistency and uniformity and our target is to define the line of intervention.”Europe’s leading clubs and leagues have already said they wanted UEFA to introduce VAR as soon as possible but there concerns remain that some of the smaller leagues and member associations might not be ready, which explains why the full roll-out in UEFA’s club and international competitions is still some way off.

---

Chris Smalling admits that confidence at Manchester United "dipped" under Jose Mourinho and believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a "no-brainer" to stay on as boss after delivering a reversal
Smalling Says Handing Solskjaer The Job Permanently Is A 'No

---

Peter Crouch was among the movers on deadline day as he completed a return to the Premier League to join Burnley. The former England striker, 38, agreed a short-term contract with Sean Dyche's men in a deal that saw Wales international Sam Vokes go the other way to Stoke City.
Premier League done deals - every transfer completed ahead of

---

Manchester United news: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn't want to leave 'great bunch of players' in the summer The interim boss has won all four of his games in charge of United since Jose
Manchester United news: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn't want to

---

Harry Kane's goal in Tottenham's Carabao Cup win over Chelsea exposes flaws with VAR, claims David Seaman - talkSPORT Mauricio Pochettino should sell
EFL Cup - Page 3 - talkSPORT

---

Some Manchester United players' careers might be over says Solskjaer. Man Utd's squad is expected to undergo an overhaul this summer and a number of players are expected to leave.
Manchester United news: Calls to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

---

I don't need to lick a**, but the fans were just amazing. I remember my first game in the Premier League at Bournemouth, I scored and the fans were singing my song for 45 minutes.
'F*ck, this is amazing!' - Ibrahimovic on his Man Utd spell

---

Man United consider transfer move for 18-year-old English sensation December 9, 2018 Lado Man United 0 Bristol City's Antoine Semenyo is attracting Manchester United's attention, who sent scouts to watch the forward in action for Newport County.
Manchester United - Transfer News - 8 December 2018
atomicsoda.com/man-utd/transfer-news/8-dec-2018
Manchester United consider transfer move for Bristol City's Antoine Semenyo Man Utd news: Jesse Lingard claims Red Devils are ready to turn season around
Manchester United tracking Bristol City starlet after

---

With Hart out of form, and goals flying past Butland and Pickford, Burnley captain Tom Heaton would most likely be England's No.1 if fit, but he's now being kept out of the team by Pope and
Everton news and transfers RECAP - Rival club linked with

---

here's how supporters reacted as Smalling gives Messi a bloody nose and eye in brutal clash during United vs Barcelona Messi's inborn bloodlust leaves United staring down a black hole Messi outshines Pogba as Barcelona leave Old Trafford with the advantage Manchester United defence proves no match for Messi's footballing third eye Jack Grealish Scores […]
Chris Smalling "hit Messi like a train", says Valverde - AS.com

---

Chelsea fans were stunned yesterday when video footage emerged of an apparent training ground bust-up between David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain just a day before their Europa League final against
David Luiz plays down Sarri strop & Higuain spat ahead of

---

Harry Kane will start the Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid having been passed fit to play for Tottenham. The striker has not featured since April 9 but returns to the starting team.
'I love you boys!': Crocked Tottenham star Harry Kane

---

Chelsea's Kurt Zouma transfer stance assessed - and what chance Everton have of permanent deal. The Blues will test Chelsea's resolve over the defender in the summer
7am Chelsea transfer news: Blues banned from signing players

---