PARIS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 15 video match officials representing 11 countries and regions for the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019, it announced on Thursday.
"Following the historic implementation of VAR at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia last summer, we were determined to do our utmost to ensure that VAR was also implemented in the women's game," said FIFA Deputy Secretary General Zvonimir Boban.
"In order to achieve this goal, for the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 we selected the most experienced VARs in the world. Once again, VAR will be part of a remarkable project as it will unite women and men referees in what we are certain will be a successful tournament," he added.
10 of the 15 selected video match officials were VAR or referees at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
At the beginning of last December, the FIFA Referees Committee had selected 27 referees and 47 assistant referees representing 42 countries and regions for the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019.
As part of the Road to France project, preparatory seminars have taken place over the last three years for referees and assistant referees, focusing on protecting players and the image of the game, as well as on consistency in interpreting the Laws of the Game. From last year on, the preparatory seminars have also included utilizing VARs. Every effort is being made to ensure that the match officials are 100 percent ready for the big occasion.
The FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 will be played from June 7 to July 7 in nine French cities, with the final to take place in Lyon on July 7.
