
<p>Significant Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions will reportedly be explained on a microphone during the upcoming <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Women’s World Cup</a>. Sources at <em><a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37938116/women-world-cup-introduce-nfl-style-var-calls-sources" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPN</a></em> claim that FIFA has made the move to help fans better understand major decisions. This includes both the fans inside the stadium, as well as those watching along on TV at home.</p>



<p>The International Football Association Board (IFAB) previously revealed that they would begin to make these announcements during tournaments. This first started to occur at the most recent FIFA Club World Cup and the U20 World Cup. After seeing success at these competitions, the governing body of the sport will now use the VAR process at the Women’s World Cup.</p>



<h2>FIFA referee chief cites inspiration from NFL on VAR at Women’s World Cup</h2>



<p>“We decided to have this trial because we received some requests to make the decision taken by the referee after a VAR intervention more understandable for all the football stakeholders, namely the spectators at the stadium, or in front of the television,” Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s referee committee, <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37938116/women-world-cup-introduce-nfl-style-var-calls-sources" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> back in February.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="How VAR works in MLS and the World Cup" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uYqxYxiVy24?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<p>Collina also referenced the National Football League here in the United States. The NFL introduced the idea of referees explaining decisions on microphone decades ago. These game officials help clarify significant calls so there is no confusion for on-looking spectators. NFL fans would now find it increasingly difficult to follow a game without these referee explanations.</p>



<h5>Captains to wear specialized armbands at tournament</h5>



<p>Along with making the notable refereeing adjustment, FIFA officially addressed captain armbands. There has been a seemingly constant back-and-forth discussion between teams and the governing body regarding these armbands. FIFA has <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-prohibit-one-love-armband-for-womens-world-cup-20230630-WST-440637.html">banned rainbow armbands</a> signifying diversity and respect <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/germany-players-cover-their-mouths-in-fifa-world-cup-protest-20221123-WST-409642.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at major tournaments</a>. FIFA has instead opted for other alternatives despite claims that they would allow them at the Women’s World Cup.</p>



<p>The governing body will allow team captains of the upcoming competition to choose between eight different specialized armbands. These armbands feature nods to separate social causes. This includes inclusion, equality, anti-violence, and ending hunger, among others. The 2023 Women’s World Cup will start on July 20th, with Australia and New Zealand hosting the competition.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / ANP</em></p>



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FIFA has reportedly decided to allow match referees to explain major VAR decisions on microphone at the upcoming 2023 Women's World Cup.

Women's World Cup refs to clarify VAR calls to crowds - World Soccer Talk

Women's World Cup refs to clarify VAR calls to crowds


<p>FIFA has imposed sanctions against any team that wears the OneLove captain armbands throughout the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">World Cup</a> in Qatar, which Germany calls blackmail. Originally, Belgium, Denmark, <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/england-and-wales-to-defy-fifa-and-wear-onelove-armbands-20221119-WST-409028.html">England, Wales</a>, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland were all set to wear the armband. However, the world’s governing body of the sport changed their minds at the last minute to block to move.</p>



<p>Germany FA media director Steffen Simon told Deutschlandfunk radio that England faced sanctions if Harry Kane wore the armband. England was the first of the septet to play in the tournament. Although Kane had initially planned to wear the OneLove armband against the USA, the captain was ultimately forced to make the change. </p>



<p>“The tournament director went to the English team and talked about multiple rule violations and threatened with massive sporting sanctions without specifying what these would be,”&nbsp;<a href="https:\/\/www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/extreme-blackmail-forced-federations-drop-armbands-german-fa-2022-11-22/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">claimed</a> Simon.</p>



<p>“We were in an extreme situation, in an extreme blackmail, and we thought we had to take that decision without wanting to do so.”</p>



<p>Simon also addressed backlash the teams are facing for not defying FIFA. “I can understand the disappointment,” stated Simon. “We had the choice between the plague and cholera.”&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Germany sees major supermarket pull sponsorship because team abandoned OneLove armbands at World Cup <a href="https:\/\/t.co/KKF8sx9wmr">https:\/\/t.co/KKF8sx9wmr</a></p>— Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1595084637184966658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Germany receive blackmail into change in armbands</h2>



<p>These sanctions apparently began with a fine. Yet, it would go so far as booking the captains that wore the armband. The <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/netherlands-national-team-tv-schedule/">Dutch</a> were the first team to publicly address the issue. Captain Virgil van Dijk did not wear the OneLove armband during their <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/senegal-stumbles-against-netherlands-in-world-cup-group-a-20221121-WST-409308.html">2-0 victory against Senegal</a> on Monday.</p>



<p>“We stand for the ‘OneLove’ message and will continue to spread it, but our No. 1 priority at the World Cup is to win the games,” read the Dutch <a href="https:\/\/www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/4808018/world-cup-teams-abandon-onelove-armband-amid-fifa-row" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a>. “You don’t want the captain to start the match with a yellow card. That is why it is with a heavy heart that we as a UEFA working group, KNVB and as a team had to decide to abandon our plan.”</p>



<p>The OneLove campaign promotes diversity and inclusion. Homosexuality is currently illegal in the host nation of Qatar.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Ulmer/Teamfoto</em></p>


DFB media director Steffen Simon claims that seven World Cup teams, including Germany, had blackmail to not wear OneLove armbands.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "armband"

FIFA

Women's World Cup refs to clarify VAR calls to crowds

Germany

Germany claims 'extreme blackmail' forced armbands change