2018 FIFA World Cup Video Replays Will Be Used For The First Time

Video replays are common in almost every other sport that’s played professionally but not soccer, which is also known as football in many parts of the world. Traditionalists have almost always frowned upon using video replays to question the call made by a referee on the ground. However, after more than a decade of considering whether or not video replays should be allowed in professional soccer matches, the sport’s governing body FIFA has confirmed that the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be the first ever world cup in which video replays will be used.

FIFA has been considering the technology for quite some time. Calls to integrated the technology into games picked up steam when flubbed calls sent England and Mexico packing erroneously in the 2010 World Cup

The video replay technology has already been implemented at many stages of professional soccer but it has so far been missing from the biggest stage that the sport has to offer. For example, instant video replays have been available in general soccer matches since last year.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino today confirmed that on-field instant video replays will be available in the World Cup for the first time in 2018 when Russia will be hosting the tournament.

Teams who have been shown the door due to flubbed calls in the past will certainly be happy that this technology will reduce their chances of being wrongfully eliminated again in the future. It’s about time that FIFA took this step.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: General
Tags: FIFA