CARSON, Calif. – Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization announced on Friday that live, in-game testing of the Video Assistant Referee initiative has begun for select preseason matches.
The VAR initiative consists of an additional referee positioned in a booth with technology that offers access to video from every available broadcast camera angle. A communications system will then allow the VAR to alert and consult the head referee of errors in four specific “game-changing” situations: Goals, penalty calls, direct red-card incidents, and cases of mistaken identity.
“During this preseason phase of testing, PRO will be keen on identifying consistent decision-making and fine-tuning referee-to-VAR communications,” said PRO GM Peter Walton in a statement.