Fifa Officially Approves VAR For 2018 World Cup, Rohr Comments

Fifa has approved the use of video assistant referees (VAR) for the 2018 World Cup matches which will be staged in Russia this summer.

The decision was taken on Friday, March 16 during a Fifa council meeting in Bogota, Colombia, and the World Cup in Russia will be the first in history where referees will be able to use video replays to help them make decisions.

The VAR has received a lot of criticisms in countries where it is implemented but Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has spoken out in support of the technology.

In an interview with the print edition of Soccer Laduma, Rohr stated : ''I'm for it. It will bring justice to many situations and it will help the referees.

''Of course, there are some small hiccups in the beginning as with any new system.

''I have notched some small issues in the Bundesliga and in other countries where it has been implemented, but it will be more accepted over time.''

Fifa has also approved that coaches will be allowed to introduce a fourth substitute during extra time for matches in the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

Igho Kingsley