EFL selects Arsenal v Chelsea Carabao Cup semi-final for video assistant referee trial

By Andy Charles

Image: Chelsea and Arsenal were drawn together in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup

The EFL has confirmed Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be in use for both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Chelsea in January.

The system will be trialled for the first time in a competitive club match in England on January 8 during the FA Cup third-round clash between rivals Brighton and Crystal Palace.

VAR is already in use in Serie A and the Bundesliga and was trialled for the first time in England during the November international friendlies against Germany and Brazil at Wembley, without ever being needed in play.

Image: The video assistant referee system will be in use for Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final with Chelsea

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said he hopes VAR will be implemented for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, following successful trials at the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

The EFL was always going to trial VAR in one of the semi-final ties and confirmed on Thursday it has chosen the London derby rather than Bristol City's clash with Manchester City, while also confirming fixture dates.

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Bristol City will make the trip to the Etihad on Tuesday, January 9, to open the semi-final action, with Chelsea hosting Arsenal on January 10.

Lee Johnson's Robins host the Premier League leaders at Ashton Gate on Tuesday, January 23, with Arsenal taking on Chelsea at the Emirates to conclude semi-final proceedings on January 24.

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All four semi-final matches will be broadcast on Sky Sports.

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