Video technology to assist referees receives 'very positive' reviews

Video technology to assist referees has received "very positive" reviews from leagues trialling the system during a two-day summit in Switzerland.

Around 20 countries are currently taking part in experiments involving the use of Video Assistant Referees (VARs).

A video referee will be used in England's international against Germany at Wembley on Friday after the first trial of the system passed without incident during last month's 2017 Wembley Cup match.

The Football Association intends to use VARs in selected matches from the FA Cup third round in January and the latter stages of the EFL Cup.

"As expected, in any experiment there have been some challenges," David Elleray, IFAB technical director, told Sky Sports News after this week's meeting.

"The detailed feedback showed that the VAR system is generally working well and football is benefitting.

"We will now work to refine the practical application of the protocol, improve aspects of the technology and continue the important work of training the referees and VARs."

Germany players criticise VAR

Sandro Wagner and Sami Khedira have criticised the "disastrous" testing of the system in league games.

Last year, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) - the game's lawmakers - approved a two-year live experiment to assist referees and match officials for "clear errors in match-changing situations".

The experiment is in full use in Italy, Germany, Portugal, the United States (Major League Soccer) and South Korea.

IFAB will announce next March whether the system can be used worldwide and FIFA will make the final decision over whether VARs will be used in next summer's World Cup in Russia.

Sky Sports News went behind the scenes with Premier League referees trialling VARs at St George's Park last month. Click here for more.