FIFA: video assistant referees to be used during the 64 matches of the 2018 World Cup in Russia

The "use of video assistant referees (VARs) in all matches, one additional substitute per team in matches that go into extra time and permission to communicate information and transmit data to the technical area for coaching purposes," were the three approved changes to the Laws of the Game, by IFAB on 03/03/2018, which will be applied at the 2018 World Cup, after a decision at the FIFA Council meeting in Bogota (COL) on 16/03/2018.

The FIFA Council also approved the voting procedure for the designation of the host country(s) for the 2026 World Cup. Two files have been submitted, one by the United States, Canada and Mexico trio, and another by Morocco. A decision must be made at the FIFA Congress meeting in Moscow (RUS) on 13/06/2018, on the eve of the opening match of the 2018 World Cup.

"The FIFA Council endorsed the organisation’s annual reports for 2017, which show a result of $300m (€250.4m on 31/12/2017) over budget for the year and the forecast of a positive result in excess of $100m (€81.3m on 18/03/2018) to be achieved for the 2015-2018 cycle," stated FIFA, who added that…