The Tangier stadium was far from full on Wednesday evening, but spectators present in the Moroccan enclosure will be able to say that they witnessed a historic first.
We are playing stoppage time for the first meeting of the 2023 edition of the Club World Cup between the Egyptians of Al-Ahly and the New Zealanders of Auckland.
Dominated (3-0), the Oceanians see one of their opponents slipping towards their penalty area.
This is the moment that defender Adam Mitchell chooses to come and tackle striker Taher Mohamed in his race.
Fault, indicates the Chinese referee Ma Ning, immediately asked by an Egyptian to award a penalty.
But this one is called by his video assistance, the Var, to come and watch the fault at the edge of the field.
The man with the whistle watches the action, then takes the floor along the sideline to announce his decision.
Words broadcast via his microphone on the stadium speakers, but which are difficult to hear on television.
History: Chinese Ma NING became the first football referee to explain a VAR decision over the loudspeaker to the public.
It was yesterday during the 1st round match of the Club World Cup between @AlAhly and @AucklandCity_FC!@fifacom_fr @FIFAWorldCup #ClubWC pic.twitter.com/BfqiDN63Zr
— SAFE (@RefereesSAFE) February 2, 2023
And regardless of Ma Ning disallowing the penalty while dismissing Mitchell, it was the first time a referee had explained to the public and viewers what was behind his decision.
A historic test, announced in January by Ifab, the body in charge of football rules.
This Club World Cup, where Real Madrid represents Europe, and the first competition of an experimental year for Fifa.
The referees of the Women's World Cup, disputed this summer in Australia and New Zealand, will also be heard in the stadiums and on television in the event of recourse to Var.
An idea already present in other sports such as the NFL, the North American American football league, but also in rugby where viewers can hear the discussions between the central referee and his video assistants.
The French Football Federation has volunteered with Ifab to broadcast all the comments of the referees during Ligue 1 matches. In the event of refusal, the FFF is also ready to broadcast only announcements to explain the decisions taken in the event of an appeal by the Var.
