03/24/25 07:24:00
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03/24 07:23 CDT Italy to follow England and Germany by trialing in-stadium
announcements for VAR calls
Italy to follow England and Germany by trialing in-stadium announcements for
VAR calls
MILAN (AP) --- The Italian league will offer more transparency over video
review decisions, including limited in-stadium announcements of the referee's
conversations with the VAR.
The league's governing body announced on Monday that it would trial the system
in the remaining matches of the Italian Cup, limiting it to the explanation of
the decisions taken by the referee after reviewing incidents on a sideline
monitor.
It will be the first time such a system is used in Italian soccer although it
has already been trialed in England and Germany.
Inter Milan faces city rival AC Milan and Bologna plays Empoli next month in
the semifinals, which are held over two legs. The final is on May 14.
Lega Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said the aim is "to make the measures taken
increasingly transparent and understandable for the players, team managers and
all the stakeholders involved, including the public in the stands and viewers."
Soccer is a relative latecomer to announcements which are widely used in other
team sports.
NFL referees were given wireless microphones in 1975 to explain penalty
decisions. Major League Baseball began in-park announcements during replay
reviews in 2022 and microphones have long-been used by rugby referees.
In-stadium soccer announcements were in place at the Women's World Cup in
Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and other FIFA events.
The Italian league will also display VAR graphics --- already used in
television broadcasts --- on giant screens in stadiums to inform about possible
reviews in progress or of long-lasting VAR checks.
That will be introduced for Serie A fixtures this weekend.
"Lega Serie A wants to continue to invest in innovation, introducing all the
new technologies that can enhance the spectacle of our Championship and support
the refereeing trio," De Siervo said. "In fact, we were the first in the world
to introduce VAR."
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