Video Assistant Referees: "Minimum interference for maximum benefit" (Gianni Infantino)

"We believe VAR can deliver minimum interference for maximum benefit, which is essential for the flow of the game. We are extremely positive," said Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, in Yokohama (Japan), on the eve of the final of the 2016 Club World Cup (Real Madrid CF - Kashima Antlers, 4-2 a.e.t.), on 17/12/2016.

The 2016 Club World Cup, held from 08 to 18/12/2016 in Yokohama and Osaka (Japan), was the first FIFA competition where the referees could receive video support "to help them make the right decisions in situations that could change the course of a game," stated FIFA on 12/07/2016.

"The IFAB will take a final decision about (the future of VAR). It’s premature to talk about it’s full implementation. As of today, there are competitions in 12 countries that have agreed to be part of this test and we welcome this very much," added Gianni Infantino. "If IFAB decides to approve the VAR system to go forward in March 2018, FIFA will certainly use it in its tournaments," said the FIFA president, thinking of course to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"I was sceptical myself at first…