In-stadium VAR announcements by referees will be trialed in English soccer for the first time when Arsenal hosts Newcastle in the semifinals of the English League Cup

The NFL has been doing it since the 1970s. On Tuesday, English soccer finally joined the party by having referees explain controversial rulings to fans in the stadium via a wireless microphone. The English League Cup semifinals were chosen to pilot a system in which officials use the public address system to communicate directly with fans after incidents involving Video Assistant Referees (VAR).

Follow live coverage as Arsenal face Newcastle United in the EFL cup. Liverpool are the reigning champions of the competition following an extra time victory over Chelsea at Wembley last term, Virgil van Dijk scoring the decisive goal to secure a record-extending tenth win of this domestic cup for the Reds.