PARIS: A video referee made two decisive interventions as Spain beat France 2-0 in a friendly at the Stade de France.

France thought they had the lead just after the break when Antoine Griezmann headed home but referee Felix Zwayer called on assistance from his video assistant referee, who denied the goal because Layvin Kurzawa had been in an offside position.

Spain then took the lead when David Silva dispatched a penalty with 68 minutes gone before Gerard Deulofeu added a second with a little under 15 minutes left in the match.

Again the video referee played a key role.

Deulofeu’s strike had originally been adjudged as offside but, when called upon, the video assistant referee once again amended the decision.

Gianni Infantino, president of world federation FIFA, hopes that trials of the video referee will be completed satisfactorily in time for it to be used at the World Cup finals in Russia next year.

###########