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FIFA Club World Cup: VAR Testing in Spotlight
Tournament Begins on Wednesday
The UEFA Champions League doesn’t return until mid-February with the first leg of the Round of 16, but there’s another international club tournament worthy of attention, especially if you’re a soccer betting enthusiast. We’re talking about the FIFA Club World Cup, in which you’ll be able to watch clubs like Real Madrid, Flamengo, and the Seattle Sounders.
The tourney will also serve to test some VAR (Video Assistant Referee) changes, which we share below.
Let’s check the latest soccer news, stats, injury report, and soccer lines for FIFA Club World Cup games. We’ve got plenty of soccer picks for you to consider.
As well explore a variety of other soccer odds here to win!
Time to Explain
So far, referees don’t have to explain a decision after checking the VAR, which allows all kinds of interpretations. Well, that’s about to change, at least if the trial that FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) and IFAB (International Football Association Board) agreed to is successful.
Beginning on Wednesday (Feb. 1) with the match between Al-Ahly and Auckland City, referees will announce the reasons for VAR decisions to the people at the stadium, and TV audience, via microphone. Similar to how it’s done in the NFL.
The referees will explain what is being looked at, meaning why they decided to go to the VAR, and then they’ll break down the factors taken into consideration to reach a certain decision. The test will also try to reduce the number of complaints from players.
Good luck with that!
“We think it’s important in terms of transparency, predominantly to the crowd in the stadium, who at the moment don’t get enough information as to what’s happening with a decision”, said Mark Bullingham, who’s a member of the IFAB board, during an interview.
If this first test is successful, there will be two more. First, during the men’s Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia in May. Later, at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.
The Tournament
The FIFA Club World Cup will begin on Wednesday while the Grand Finale is scheduled for Feb. 11. That’s right, we’re talking about a very short tournament that will be held in Morocco. Only seven teams participate, and all series are one match.
Real Madrid are heavily favored in the soccer odds to win the tournament. Los Blancos already won it in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Flamengo are expected to be Real Madrid’s biggest threat, but no team from CONMEBOL has won the title since 2012.
Special mention to the Seattle Sounders, the first team from the Major League Soccer to participate in the tournament. If the Sounders manage to defeat the winner between Al-Ahly and Auckland City, they’ll meet Real Madrid in the semifinals. The other semifinal will be Flamengo against the winner between Wydad Casablanca and Al-Hilal.
The champions will get $6 million while the runners-up will get $4 million.
