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Video referee to be trialled in England friendly with Germany at Wembley

The Bundesliga has used video assistant referees this season and the FA will trial one at Wembley - dpa
The Bundesliga has used video assistant referees this season and the FA will trial one at Wembley - dpa

The Football Association will use a video referee for the first time in an official match in this country when England play Germany in an international friendly at Wembley on Friday night.

A report in The Times says the FA has confirmed they would use a video assistant referee (VAR) for the first time as Gareth Southgate, the England manager, prepares for the first friendly in the countdown to next summer's World Cup finals.

According to the report, Wembley has been tested and given approval to use the system by the International FA Board (Ifab).

The fixture which has, perhaps, thrown up two of the most controversial goal-line incidents within living memory – Geoff Hurst's goal in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley and Frank Lampard's disallowed goal at the 2010 World Cup – will be officiated by Polish referee Pawel Raczkowski while his compatriot Pawel Gil will become the first VAR to operate in England.

The report adds that the FA is also planning to test the system in selected FA Cup third-round matches in January  and it may be introduced to the Premier League as early as next season if it is considered a success. 

In an ironic twist, however, the use of VAR in Germany has this week run into controversy after accusations of manipulation and incompetence dogged Bundesliga's trial run.

The German Football Association (DFB) dismissed Hellmut Krug as head of its VAR project this week after tabloid claims he influenced two key decisions in a game between Schalke, his hometown club, and visiting Wolfsburg on Oct. 28. Krug denies any wrongdoing.