DUBLIN — UEFA will fast-track the implementation of video assistant referees (VAR) for the Champions League knockout stages this season, its president Aleksander Ceferin said on Monday.
European soccer's governing body opted against using VAR this season, despite the technology being employed by major European leagues in Spain, Italy and Germany, and the World Cup in Russia this year.
But Ceferin flagged recently that a report being prepared by UEFA's referees chief could allow its Executive Committee to revise its stance. It also agreed on Monday to roll out the technology in this season's Europa League final and next June's finals of UEFA's new Nations League competition.
"To be very straightforward with you, we discussed with our colleagues if we can do it before, why wait because it's hard to afford any mistakes," Ceferin told a news conference at the end of a two-day meeting of the Executive Committee in Dublin.
UEFA referees chief Roberto Rosetti said UEFA would use the same protocol as other associations but would seek in its guidelines to define the line of intervention clearly.
"We are speaking about consistency, uniformity. The communication is another key part of the project. We have to be very clear and communicate in the best way to the fans, players and coaches," Rosetti said.
Earlier, European soccer's governing body approved the creation of a third-tier UEFA club competition on Sunday, a tournament which will mirror the current Champions League and Europa League format from 2021.
The UEFA's Executive Committee finalized plans to introduce the event, with the working title 'UEL2' and featuring 32 teams in the group stage, in the 2021 to 2024 competition cycle. The Europa League group stage, meanwhile, will be reduced from 48 teams to 32.
UEFA said that the Champions League would remain unaltered, meaning that the four top-ranked leagues — currently Spain, England, Germany and Italy — would each keep four guaranteed places in the group stage.
"No changes will be made to the format and access list of the UEFA Champions League," said UEFA. UEFA said the new setup would ensure that at least 34 countries would be represented in the group stages of UEFA club competitions, compared to today's total of 26.
"The new UEFA club competition makes UEFA's club competitions more inclusive than ever before," Ceferin said. "There will be more matches for more clubs, with more associations represented in the group stages. This competition was borne out of ongoing dialogue with clubs through the European Club Association."
England to host 2021 women’s event
England will host the women's European Championship in 2021 with the final set for Wembley Stadium a year after the venue hosts the climax of the men's edition, European soccer's governing body UEFA announced on Monday.
The Football Association's (FA) bid to stage the tournament was unchallenged, granting the 2017 semifinalists automatic qualification for the 16-team tournament as hosts.
"England has been selected to host UEFA Women's Euro 2021, with 16 teams to compete in July of that year," UEFA said in a statement.
The FA's chief executive officer Martin Glenn said bringing the event to England was an opportunity to celebrate women's soccer and help their efforts to grow the game.
"We cannot underestimate the positive impact this tournament will have on inspiring the next generation," Glenn added.
"Young girls and boys will be lifted by the chance to see Europe's elite on their doorstep and it can only help the effort across our leagues and clubs to grow the game even further."
England hosted the smaller Women's Euro 2005, which featured eight teams, at venues across the north-west of the country.
More than 29,000 spectators watched England's opening win against Finland in Manchester, a record for an opening group match.
The FA said Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium and Southampton's St Mary's Stadium were among a number of venues being considered for the 2021 tournament. The draw for the qualifying group stage will be held in February next year.
The Netherlands beat Denmark 4-2 to lift the 2017 title on home soil. — Reuters
