NYON: European federation UEFA is considering whether to bring forward the introduction of the VAR video refereeing system in time for the knockout stages of this season’s Champions League writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was cautious about rushing the application of VAR when members of the executive committee discussed the issue ahead of the World Cup finals this past summer in Russia.

At the time concern was expressed that world federation FIFA was acting in haste. However the success of VAR at the tournament in Russia raised the prospect of UEFA reviewing its introduction before the state date of next season.

Supporters of VAR have been encouraged to press their case by the storm over the incident on Wednesday in Manchester when Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai awarded a penalty to City against Shakhtar Donetsk after Raheem Sterling fell over his own feet.

An announcement could be made in early December by the UEFA executive committee. Training courses for referees are already being undertaken to build on the work many European officials had invested before their own involvement at the World Cup.

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