Australia's A-League to trial video replays in matches

SYDNEY (AP) - Football Federation Australia will trial video replays in the A-League after being one of six countries approved by FIFA to run offline experiments.

The off-line experiments in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal and the United States won't involve referees but FIFA says live trials could be run in games next year.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier said he hopes the Video Assistant Referees system will be used to support referees at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Video replay officiating would be restricted to potentially match-changing decisions on goals being scored, penalties being awarded, players being sent off and cases of mistaken identity.

The only technology currently used in soccer is to rule on disputed goals.

In the initial experiments, the VARs will assess the video replays and practice making calls, but without any communication with the referee so that there is no impact on the game.

Subject to the completion of the initial tests, the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan is expected to be used as a final test event before the International Football Association Board, the guardian of the laws of the game, allows participants to conduct live trials in 2017.

FFA chief executive David Gallop said a project team would work with referees, clubs, coaches, players and broadcasters about the introduction of the VAR system.

"The eventual introduction of VARs will be a breakthrough for referees in game-changing moments and will greatly enhance the experience for fans and viewers," he said.