FA Cup: Brighton v Palace set to be VAR landmark

Crystal Palace and Brighton played out a goalless draw in the Premier League on 27 November

Brighton's FA Cup third-round meeting with Crystal Palace will be the first competitive club match in England in which VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology is used.

The Football Association said in March that it would trial VAR in the FA Cup.

Tottenham's home tie against AFC Wimbledon had been considered as a possible test of the system.

For the first time since 2005, a Manchester United match in the FA Cup will not be shown live on television.

The Red Devils, who were last passed over by broadcasters as one of the televised picks when they met Exeter at Old Trafford 12 years ago, play Derby County at home.

The Merseyside derby meeting between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield will be live on BBC One on Friday, 5 January, with kick-off at 19:55 GMT.

Premier League Leicester's trip to either Hereford or Fleetwood will be live on BBC One on Saturday, 6 January with kick-off at 12:45 GMT.

West Ham will get their FA Cup campaign under way at 14:00 GMT away to Shrewsbury Town on Sunday, 7 January on the same channel.

BBC One Wales will show Newport County's home tie against Leeds on Sunday.

VAR technology is used in three "game-changing" situations; goals, penalties and straight red cards, and can also flag up cases of mistaken identity by the referee.

It was first deployed in an official match in the United Kingdom for England's goalless draw in a friendly against Germany in November., although it was not called on by the referee.

"The FA has always been open to trialling new innovations and was heavily involved in the advancement of goal-line technology before it was introduced," said the FA's director of professional game relations Andy Ambler.

Ambler added that the use of VAR in the FA Cup "further demonstrates that whilst being the most famous and historic domestic cup competition in the world it is also modern, progressive and innovative".

The system has been tested around the world since the International Football Association Board approved a two-year trial in 2016.

Since being used in the Club World Cup in December of that year it was also been seen in domestic competitions such as the Bundesliga, Serie A and Major League Soccer.

BBC Coverage

Friday 5 January:

Liverpool v Everton, BBC One, kick-off 19:55 GMT.

Saturday 6 January

Hereford/Fleetwood v Leicester, BBC One, 12:45 GMT.

Sunday 7 January

Newport v Leeds, BBC One Wales, 12:00 GMT

Shrewsbury v West Ham, BBC One, 14:00 GMT

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28 comments

Comment posted by robin, at 18:23 7 Dec 2017
If VAR is coming Sterling may as well hang up his boots
Comment posted by Emile Heskey for England Captain, at 17:58 7 Dec 2017
About time VAR was brought it. No idea why it's taken so long.

A very welcome change.

Next up: stricter rules on diving and introduce a 'rugby style' clock, where the match timer stops when the ball is not in play. Eradicate time wasting.
Comment posted by User0126244157, at 18:04 7 Dec 2017
Only about 30 years overdue but hopefully it will be used for all the FA Cup games from now on and for the Premiership too!

These refs need all the help they can get! (except for Clatternberg who just makes up his own rules!
Comment posted by D1679618081335, at 18:23 7 Dec 2017
About time, maybe now we will get the right winners of games instead of the best cheats!
Comment posted by Knighton Palace, at 19:45 7 Dec 2017
With all the money in football now days, it is amazing that it is not used every premier game !!!
Comment posted by kevin, at 20:07 7 Dec 2017
Good idea! Finally, technology is being used... it's long overdue!

@17, i would beg to differ... just look at Rugby
Comment posted by G, at 19:29 7 Dec 2017
Is the BBCs love affair with Man Utd finally over??
Comment posted by Lord Tate, at 18:19 7 Dec 2017
Delighted to hear the FA has some kind of idea of what normal sportsmen and sportswomen believe in!....Just pray VAR is put to good use and stop the cheats...
Comment posted by The_Yorkshire_Toffee, at 17:56 7 Dec 2017
But the first game wasn't and that is what is being said!
Comment posted by Henry Krinkle, at 19:13 7 Dec 2017
In the Idiotbox is where you should stand, clown. BTID
Comment posted by Brian Russell, at 20:47 7 Dec 2017
12. Posted by Grecian2009
Since when has Sterling been Englands best player?
What about Kane, Alli, Rashford ?
I'm not denying that sterling is good, but Englands best? Come on, stop smoking that funny stuff.
Comment posted by Dougsey, at 20:47 7 Dec 2017
I hope they keep a close eye on it, no doubt Palace 'fans' will try and break it if they get the chance. On a similar vein, I do hope the teenage ultras turn up again, they were wonderful entertainment in their matching little black hoodies last time.
Comment posted by notnowjustnow, at 22:02 7 Dec 2017
@21 ali's knowhere near englands best player
Comment posted by RealFootball, at 23:11 7 Dec 2017
Hopefully VAR will one day replace referees entirely. I know it's another step away from the roots of football, but the stakes are so high nowadays human-error is so often the difference between glory and failure

Diving, theatrics, surrounding referees, sympathy decisions, time wasting... It would all go if technology is used intelligently and properly

Hurry up with safe-standing too!!!
Comment posted by D1710690448162, at 23:59 8 Dec 2017
26. Posted by stooge on

Not much point starting Zaha in this match then.

It will actually highlight how much Zaha is fouled by cheating defenders, I bet you he never receives a booking himself.
Comment posted by stooge, at 00:24 8 Dec 2017
Not much point starting Zaha in this match then.
Comment posted by devils advocate, at 22:33 7 Dec 2017
Surely the FA Cup should be shown on 'Yesterday' Freeview Ch19

Only 6 teams to beat to win a trophy? C'mon!
(and most of them beaten are reserve teams)
Comment posted by D1679092449428, at 19:25 7 Dec 2017
Since goal line technology stopping dirty cheating keepers scooping our balls from back of the net and calling it a save we've seen a demise in this cheating this hopefully will be the final nail in the coffins of such cheats
Comment posted by Brian Russell, at 20:51 7 Dec 2017
6. Posted by Idiotbox

The FA cup is not dead, try telling that to the likes of Lincoln and Sutton United, and Shrewsbury and Rochdale this season.
Comment posted by Moggs, at 05:02 8 Dec 2017
Nice pay day for Newport County. Too much to hope for a home win as well, I suppose.