Mitch Freeley

Gianni Infantino has expressed his confidence that video technology will be used for the Upcoming World Cup in Russia. The FIFA President spoke ahead of the World Cup Draw at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow.

Infantino has been a firm backer of video technology since being elected to the top job in FIFA, and after extensive trials in a number of key leagues including the MLS, Bundesliga and Serie A the Italian believes it’s time to implement the technology for the World Cup.

“We expect both referees and teams will be benefitting from technology. We are in (Russia) 2018 soon and I think in it is absolutely normal that in 2018 we can explore and see how we can help the referee and the team to take the right decision, the correct decision”

Video refereeing was trialled at the recent Confederations Cup in Russia over the summer, and Infantino stressed that the positive experience with the technology should see video refereeing being introduced for the World Cup by March next year.

“Video-assisted refereeing is a topic which will be decided in March next year but the experience of ours have been extremely positive to help the referee not to commit big mistakes which obliviously as a human being he can do and this benefits him and the team.”

Infantino ended with a reference to goal-line technology, which hit the headlines yesterday in Spain when Leo Messi’s effort which was clearly over the line was ruled out by the referee leading to Barcelona drawing with Valencia 1-1. Infantino added that the technology will appear at Russia 2018, and will eliminate any doubt for referees and fans on any contentious goal-line issues.

 “In addition to this, we will have goal-line technology which makes sure that if a goal is scored, well it will be awarded to the team that scored it”