New VAR rule is introduced then scrapped after a DAY as Juventus reserves clash descends into chaos

ITALIAN football made history after introducing a new VAR system, only to scrap a rule a DAY later.

In Serie C, the third tier of football in Italy, a new referee support system known as Football Video Support is being trialled.

This allows coaches to challenge decisions by requesting a referee check video footage of an incident.

Each coach has two challenges at their disposal – in a similar fashion to a coach’s challenge in basketball – but will get to keep their challenge if the referee sticks to the original decision.

This was seen in action for the first time during the opening weekend clash between Carpi and Juventus Under-23s in Serie C Group B on Saturday.

Having just taken the lead in the game, Carpi then suddenly found themselves down to 10 men for a handball against Lorenzo Lombardi, with the defender being handed a second yellow.

Typically, VAR reviews only check for major decisions such as a straight red card, goal or penalty.

But quick-thinking Carpi coach Stefano Cassani asked for a review into the decision to check whether his player deserved a straight red card.

And as it turned out, Lombardi had taken the ball with his chest and not his hand, and after checking the monitor, the on-field referee, Francesco Zago, made a complete U-turn on the decision and rescinded the second yellow.

This allowed Lombardi to stay on the field, though Juventus reserves would go on to score an injury-time equaliser.

However, Cassani will be the only manager able to use the rules in his team’s favour like this.

That is because Serie C have since slammed this loophole shut.

Following the game, the league said managers would no longer be able to call reviews against their own team.

VAR has also undergone a change at the top level of Italian football, with referees now announcing decisions for the crowd in stadiums like what has been seen in the Premier League.