Serie A to trial video refereeing next season

Serie A will be among the first leagues to test the use of video refereeing next season, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has confirmed.

Last month the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which determines the Laws of the Game, offered its support “in principle” to trials of video replays in the coming two seasons.

Italian football is set to be one of the standard bearers for the increased adoption of technology in the game, and FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio is confident it will prove to be a success.

“We were among the first advocates for the use of video technology on the pitch,” Tavecchio said.

“We believe we have all the requirements to offer our contribution in this important trial.

“In compliance with the fluidity of the game and the referee’s authority, this will improve the whole system, as has already been demonstrated by the introduction of goal-line technology.”

New Fifa president Gianni Infantino pledged to introduce further technology to the game during his campaign and in March agreed a trial at the 130th Annual General Meeting of IFAB.

“I think we cannot close our eyes to the future, to technology,” he said. “They are big tests that we are doing here and we have to be very careful when it comes to protecting the game of football and the flow of the game is crucial.