VAR decisions to be explained to fans

Decisions made by the Video Assistant Referee are set to be explained to television viewers and those in the stadium at next month’s Club World Cup.

International Football Association Board (IFAB) says if the trial in Morocco is a success then it could be rolled out at other Fifa competitions

That could include this summer’s Women’s World Cup.

Meanwhile, a temporary concussion substitute trial in the Premier League next season has been ruled out.

It was discussed when IFAB met at Wembley on Wednesday following a request from world players’ union Fifpro and the World Leagues Forum to test the protocol in the English top flight, Ligue 1 in France and Major League Soccer in the United States.

The current concussion protocols, which allow an additional permanent substitutions to be made, have come in for criticism since they were approved in 2020, with campaigners highlighting instances where a player has been allowed to stay on the pitch before later being substituted.

However, Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Bullingham, who supported the idea of a trial, says no consensus could be reached and instead the current permanent concussion substitute trial will continue indefinitely.

“Myself and others hold the view it would be worth trialling [temporary concussion substitutes] because we think there are instances of players who have appear to have been concussed and have not been taken off,” Bullingham told BBC

“The argument is that you learn more in 15 mins than three and there is merit in an evaluation away from the pitch.

“However, the decision was taken to strengthen the application of the permanent model through more education, more evidence and more impetus, so that the idea of the right decisions being made becomes reality.

“If permanent substitutes were done right, that is the safest option because at the point there is any suspicion, the player would come off.”

The Professional Footballers’ Association’s (PFA) Head of Brain Health, Dr Adam White, said it was “extremely disappointing” that a trial of temporary concussion substitutes was not approved.

“There is a fundamental issue if player unions and leagues feel football’s lawmakers are holding them back from doing what they collectively agree is best to protect the safety of players,” said White.

“The next step will be for unions and leagues to discuss what this means and what options are available to them.”