Revolutionary VAR audio available for first time in Coppa Italia semi-finals

Tonight’s Coppa Italia semi-final between Empoli and Bologna will witness the debut of a new VAR system, allowing fans to hear deliberations in real time.

It kicks off at the Stadio Castellani at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The second leg of this semi-final will be on April 24, while tomorrow Inter and Milan go head-to-head.

This evening could see a sea-change in the refereeing protocol and use of technology in the sport.

VAR audio heard in real time

The Italian authorities agreed to use the Coppa Italia semi-final as a test case to try out a new method where the fans will be able to hear deliberations between the Video Assistant Referee and the official on the ground.

It will only be activated in case there is an On-Field Review.

This system will be used in both legs of the Coppa Italia semi-finals, plus the Final in May at the Stadio Olimpico.

The audio of the VAR booth is already heard every Sunday in the DAZN programme Open VAR, where this is used to explain why certain decisions were made in Serie A fixtures that weekend.