Extension of video referee and yellow card for shirt messages

DutchNews.nl, Monday 04 August 2014

Pieter Vink (second from left) with his

assistants studying video (NOS/ANP)

The Dutch football association KNVB is to ask the International Football Association Board for permission to introduce a video referee from this October.

The KNVB has been experimenting with the video referee, or instant video replay, for the past two playing seasons. However, the results were only used to assess referee decisions after the game.

The association now wants to give referees access to the technology and allow them to call on the images during the match.

If permission is granted, the video referee will be used during the early stages of the league playing season.

The announcement was made during the annual get-together of referees, when just one new adjustment was made to the rules. From this season, players wearing shirts carrying a personal, political or religious message will be given a yellow card.