Video ref coming to Ligue 1 next season
Referees in French football's top division are set to be backed up by video technology from next season, it was announced today.
The board of the Ligue de Football Professionnel backed a proposal that should see the new system introduced for the 2018-19 Ligue 1 campaign.
Its decision was taken at the LFP's general assembly and will mean replays can be used to assist on crucial calls, rather than every decision, in matches.
Video will be reviewable in the case of goals, penalty calls, straight red cards and mistaken identity for bookings or dismissals, L'Equipe reported.
The International Football Association Board must endorse the use of video technology before the LFP can implement the video assistant referee system permanently.
A number of trials have been carried out and continue to be run in various leagues and competitions across the world, and IFAB is expected to make a ruling at its annual meeting in early 2018.
The LFP announced on its website: "The LFP board validated on Thursday, December 14 the principle of the use of video assistance for refereeing in Ligue 1 for the 2018-19 season."
It added that, providing the go-ahead is given by football's law-makers, the deployment will be one that all involved support.
"This use of video assistance for refereeing has been wanted by everyone in the game," the LFP added in its statement.
It pointed out that trials are being conducted this season from the quarter-final stage of the Coupe de la Ligue and Coupe de France competitions.
