During this World Cup, Fifa is continuing its trial of a new VAR process which allows fans in the stadium, and watching on television, to hear the referee’s explanation of their decisions for red cards and penalties.
The idea — which was also trialled in the men’s Club World Cup and the under-20 World Cup — has been widely praised by the likes of ITV pundit Ian Wright, for giving clearer communication to fans.
There is one crucial problem; it does not factor in the reaction — and sheer noise — of supporters at the stadium. In England’s opening World Cup match against Haiti, the system was used several times, as the referee Emikar Caldera Barrera first checked a potential penalty for a foul on
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