2017 Club World Cup: "VAR performed an important role in ensuring a fair outcome" (Z. Boban, FIFA)

"We are very happy with the use of VAR during this Club World Cup here in the UAE. VAR has again performed an important role in ensuring a fair outcome in all eight games of our competition," declared Zvonimir Boban (CRO), deputy secretary general of FIFA, after the Real Madrid CF (LaLiga Santander) - Grêmio Porto Alegre (BRA) final (1-0), in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on 16/12/2017.

"The spirit of VAR is minimum interference for maximum benefit, which was further demonstrated during this tournament, and we have seen once again how video assistance has definitely helped referees to make the correct decisions. Our refereeing department is doing a great job and it is clear that we are on the right track. I would like to stress that whoever is open to this hugely important step can only be positive and embrace the protection VAR provides for football," added the former Croatian international.

"As well as trialling virtual offside line technologies and referee communication systems, FIFA also tested a centralised VAR solution for the first time. The technology worked seamlessly," said FIFA on…