British firm Hawk-Eye Innovations have been chosen to provide the VAR technology for three tournaments this year ©FIFA

British firm Hawk-Eye Innovations have been chosen to provide the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology for three FIFA tournaments this year.

The company, which are behind the system used in sports such as cricket, rugby and tennis, will help referees at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, the Confederations Cup and the Club World Cup.

The Under-20 competition in South Korea begins today, while the Confederations Cup in Russia is scheduled for June and July.

The Club World Cup is set to be staged in the United Arab Emirates in December.

Hawk-Eye, who lost the the goal-line technology contract to German system GoalControl at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, were selected following a "comprehensive" tender process.

As many as 11 companies were used by world football's governing body during a trial period last year.

"FIFA is confident that the choice of Hawk-Eye as the VAR technology provider for the upcoming FIFA tournaments will satisfy the technological requirements needed for such an important innovation which is aimed at enhancing integrity and fairness in our game," FIFA deputy secretary general Zvonimir Boban said.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the sport's rule-makers, agreed to live trials of the VAR system last year and it was used during friendly matches between Italy and France in September and Germany and Italy in November.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes it is realistic that the technology will be used at the 2018 World Cup ©Getty Images
FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes it is realistic that the technology will be used at the 2018 World Cup ©Getty Images

It was also implemented at December's Club World Cup in Japan.

The IFAB say they do not expect to achieve 100 per accuracy for every single decision, with video only used for "game-changing" moments.

This would include goals, penalty decisions, red cards and cases of mistaken identity.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed in March that using the technology at next year's World Cup in Russia was "realistic".

"During the trials in the upcoming mentioned FIFA competitions, the task is to examine how the VAR system impacts on the behaviour of players, the behaviour of referees, the response of fans in the stadium and the response of people watching on television," FIFA said in a statement.

"It will be a great deal of further information that the IFAB needs before it takes a final decision on the implementation of VARs in 2018, or 2019 at the latest."