FIFA is enabling the match officials at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan that began on Thursday to review footage on a pitchside monitor for certain decisions.
The “important test” is a first for FIFA, which in its previous “semi-live” experimentation had only allowed officials on the pitch to receive verbal input on key decisions via headset from a Video Assistant Referee in a van. The VAR now has access to all broadcast feeds inside a video operations room. The referee on the pitch can receive support from the VAR and take a look on the monitor as the ultimate decision-maker.