VAR in play this season for Champions League last 16
UEFA have decided to implement the Video Assistant Referee system into the knock-out phases of the Champions League 2018/19, starting in February.
They've seen enough. UEFA's Executive Committee met in Dublin and decided that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be used this season in the Champions League.
Champions League level VAR
On Monday, following UEFA's draw for the various facets of the 2020 European Championships, the decision was made to incorporate VAR into the highest level of continental club football, the UEFA Champions League. From February 2019, when the round of 16 begins, the new technology will be in play.
Originally the plan had been to wait until the following season, however, pressure has mounted over certain decisions during the group stages that forced the committee's hand. President of UEFA, Alexander Ceferin, had been critical of the system when it was being used for the FIFA World Cup although in the months following the tournament in Russia he has changed his tune. Success over the summer, as well as solid feedback from domestic leagues such as Spain, Germany and Italy has seen the introduction of VAR brought forward.