Friday 3 March 2017 20:02, UK
FA chief executive Martin Glenn has indicated that the use of video assistant referees [VARs] could be trialled during next season's FA Cup.
That will mean an additional referee placed in a booth with access to every available camera angle. The VAR will then be able to advise the referee of an error in the event of a game-changing situation.
"I'm very happy that there is testing across the world that we can learn from so that when we apply it in English competitions we know that it is going to work," FA chief executive Glenn said.
"I'm very happy for other people to do the testing to get the wrinkles out of the way and I feel very confident given the preparation that is going on now. The PGMOL [Professional Game Match Officials Limited] are working hard at it.
"I would expect to see video assistant referees from the third round of the FA Cup for the coming season."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he was confident VARs could also be seen at the 2018 World Cup.
"That is our aim," he said. "I'm very confident. The signs are encouraging.
"The little hiccups we have seen are to do with the training of the referees, but they will be able to take decisions much faster when they use it more often.
"We will use it for sure in the Confederations Cup, the Under-20 World Cup and the Club World Cup. VAR is positive because it will allow the right decision to be taken in a game-changing circumstance."
VARs are set to be introduced for next year's FA Cup, but teams competing in the latter stages of this season's competition will have the benefit of being able to use a fourth substitute in extra-time as part of a two-year trial.
The English FA last year agreed to play a lead role in testing the idea, which was proposed by football's law-making-body the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
It is the first time four substitutes have been allowed in competitive football in England, although the format was used at last year's Copa America and then the Rio Olympics.
"With the Cup now adopting a straight knockout format from the quarter finals onwards, the introduction of a fourth substitute in extra time will bring extra intrigue and interest," Glenn said.
"Also, from a technical point of view, it will be interesting to see how managers use the chance to make an additional substitution in such high-profile games and the impact it has on the final result."
Among other proposals agreed at IFAB's 131st annual general meeting, held at Wembley Stadium on Friday, was for the use of sin bins to be tested for yellow card offences across grassroots, youth and disability football.
"Sin bins have been very effective in Scandinavian youth football," Glenn explained.
"It encourages better behaviour. We can't put it at the elite end of the game because that has to look similar all across the world, but as part of the bigger picture [it is a positive to] let different countries try different things to promote football."
A strategy to improve player behaviour was also agreed at the IFAB meeting.
A key part of that strategy will be considering how better to use captains. This may eventually mean only captains can speak to match officials, as is the case in rugby union, but such a rule-change does not appear to be imminent.
For historic reasons, IFAB is made up of the football associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and four representatives from FIFA to represent the rest of the game.
Each association gets one vote and a three-quarters majority is needed to make a change.
