A step in the right direction for football
Video replays were used for the first ever time in football last night in an international friendly between France and Italy.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described it as ‘football history being made’ as video was used when Italy appealed for a penalty after a perceived handball in the box by defender Layvin Kurzawa.
Referee Bjorn Kuipers stopped play while TV replays were consulted and it was decided not to award a spot-kick.
Infantino hopes the technology will be used at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“You could see that the referee stopped play for a couple of seconds and during those seconds the two referees in the truck verified that there was no penalty,” Infantino told Italy’s Rai TV.
“We’ve seen football history here,” he added. “We’re in 2016 so it’s about time to try it.”
Thursday’s match was staged at the San Nicola Stadium in Bari.
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
