Chelsea v Arsenal in Carabao Cup semi-final to feature VAR

Emi Martinez is shown TWO yellow cards but little-known rule means he AVOIDS being sent off for winding up Lille fans during penalty shootout… before Villa keeper saves decisive spot-kick
'Good harvesting this week my fellow farmers': Mats Hummels takes a swipe at the Premier League after FOUR English teams crashed out of Europe this week
'Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are in DANGER of becoming Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham,' claims Jamie Carragher... as ex-Liverpool defender pinpoints what Gunners must do this summer to take the next step
Chinese Grand Prix's sole practice session disrupted by a shock FIRE... with Aston Martin's Lance Stroll beating Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton ahead of this weekend
Seb Coe explains why he's HAPPY to break 128 years of Olympic tradition by handing out cash for gold... and reveals Roman Abramovich's unlikely role in athletics
Max Verstappen priced at 1/6 to make it four wins out of five this season at Chinese Grand Prix - with Lewis Hamilton 40/1 to secure his first victory since December 2021
On-loan Chelsea star 'tells Premier League giants he wants to LEAVE in the summer' - despite the £35m-rated defender signing a new deal until 2026
EFL in UPROAR over decision to scrap FA Cup replays from next season - with surprised clubs branding it a 'DISGRACE' and furious executives claiming they will seek compensation
Ronald Araujo offers blunt response to Ilkay Gundogan's criticism that his red card against PSG fueled Champions League exit... amid toxic Barcelona dressing room split
Five English teams in the Champions League would be an insult to Busby, Clough and Paisley, writes IAN LADYMAN. It's the closest the big clubs could get to a European Super League
'I don't think that was aimed at you': Wayne Rooney leaves gaming team-mates in hysterics with deadpan comment after 'fat granny s***ger' jibe as the Man United and England legend plays EA Sports FC Pro Clubs
Scottie Scheffler priced as 9/2 favourite to win back-to-back Masters titles in 2025 - with 2023 champion Jon Rahm at 10/1 and Tiger Woods out at 125/1 to record sixth Augusta triumph
Jurgen Klopp insists it's vital Liverpool are 'back to winning ways' amid Premier League title charge despite being knocked out of Europe by Atalanta… and says it's 'insane' that Trent started
Man United 'receive significant FFP windfall' from January transfer after Borussia Dortmund reach Champions League semi-finals
Liverpool supporters express their frustration after shocking Alisson stat emerges following the Reds' Europa League exit against Atalanta
Liverpool failed but gave fans hope that the Jurgen Klopp era can still have a magical ending, writes LEWIS STEELE
West Ham gave everything against a team that appear to be invincible, writes KATHRYN BATTE as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen reach Europa League semis
PLAYER RATINGS: Two Liverpool stars score just 5/10 as Jurgen Klopp's side fail to deliver comeback against Atalanta to crash out of Europa League
Former Newcastle cult hero is named head coach of UAE side Al Qabila... as club set social media ablaze with their fawning video reveal lauding 'legendary' defender with 'unmatched' experience
Ryan Garcia agrees to pay WBC light welterweight champion Devin Haney £400,000 per POUND he is over the weight limit during Friday's weigh-in as concerns over their clash continue
The Premier League is poisoning our game and their hand in having FA Cup replays scrapped is another spoonful of arsenic down the throats of the smaller clubs, writes OLIVER HOLT
Mo Salah's first-half miss proves crucial in Liverpool's Europa League defeat by Atalanta as Peter Crouch insists 'it's not that difficult' and proves the Egyptian is out of form
Arsenal identify THREE positions to strengthen in the summer in wake of Champions League exit, with significant funds to be made available for transfers
Liverpool lacked the 'belief' required to pull off comeback at Atalanta, says Peter Crouch after his former club crashed out of the Europa League as he insists Reds were 'disappointing'

Carabao Cup will feature video assistant replays (VAR) for first time in January
Technology will be used in both legs of semi-final between Chelsea and Arsenal
EFL also confirmed that VAR will be used for the final at Wembley on February 25

Published: 10:35 EDT, 21 December 2017 | Updated: 10:48 EDT, 21 December 2017

e-mail

The League Cup will feature video assistant replays (VAR) for the first time in January when they are used in both legs of the semi-final between Chelsea and Arsenal.

The EFL confirmed that the referee will have access to video replays for controversial or game changing incidents, such as goals and red cards, for both matches and the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on February 25.

The competition organisers said it was part of their commitment 'to support English football’s contribution to the live trial currently taking place across the world.'

The League Cup will feature video assistant replays (VAR) for the first time in January

The technology will be used in both legs of the semi-final between Chelsea and Arsenal

VAR can be used in Arsenal v Chelsea for controversial or game changing incidents

The EFL also confirmed the dates for both legs of the two semi finals, between Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as Manchester City v Bristol City.

Bristol City’s first-leg tie away at Man City, earned after they shocked Man United at Ashton Gate on Wednesday, is the first to take place on Tuesday, January 9, with the second leg on January 23.

The all-London clash will follow 24 hours later at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, January 10. They then play again at the Emirates Stadium on January 24.

All four games will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with the winners going through to the final at Wembley.

The EFL also confirmed that VAR will be used for the final at Wembley on February 25

VAR has proved controversial since it was first introduced in 2016, with question marks about the amount of time taken to reach decisions, and which incidents it should be used for.

Some domestic leagues, most notably the Bundesliga in Germany, use the system regularly, with fans, players and officials split over its long term viability.

VAR has been made available for occasional matches in England this season. Most notably, it was available for the international friendly against Germany in November at Wembley, but was not called into action.