FA Cup third round games at Premier League grounds will have THREE VAR officials working, instead of the usual two, in what is a potential precursor to having an extra body on Premier League matches

The FA Cup’s third-round fixtures held at Premier League grounds in January will see three VARs working on each game rather than the usual two.

As well as the VAR and AVAR, a Support VAR – shortened to SVAR – will join the officiating team.

It is a potential precursor to the Premier League adding an extra body into the Stockley Park booth in the future with PGMOL boss Howard Webb looking at how to improve the accuracy of VAR.

FA Cup third round matches held at Premier League grounds in January will use three VARs

The FA say the SVAR will help by ‘evaluating incidents and assisting with the communication between the officials’, adding that this is a role that has been regularly utilised in FIFA and UEFA competitions.

Rebecca Welch, who will become the Premier League’s first female referee when she takes charge of Fulham versus Burnley on Saturday, has been appointed QPR against Bournemouth in the FA Cup. 

Sam Allison, who is set to become the first black referee in the top flight since Uriah Rennie in 2008, will oversee Peterborough versus Leeds in the cup.