FIFA has insisted World Cup officials will be fully trained to use the video assistant referee protocol, despite criticism of often slow and confusing decision-making since trials began in 2016. Video review was this month voted into soccer’s laws and approved by FIFA for the World Cup. The World Cup officials represent 46 countries, though not Australia, Belgium, Portugal or South Korea, whose leagues have adopted VAR live trials. Brazil, France, and the Netherlands are among countries using VAR in domestic cup games that had officials selected by FIFA. Only the United States has two referees selected: Mark Geiger, who also worked at the 2014 World Cup, and Jair Marrufo.

Source: National Post March 29, 2018 14:22 UTC