The Italian referee who made history by giving the first video assistant red card in international football to France’s Raphael Varane against England on Tuesday night got the protocol wrong and bungled the decision, The Daily Telegraph has learned.

The dismissal of the France centre-back was an inauspicious moment for the video assistant referee [VAR] system, and it is understood that even before then, problems developing an effective system have prompted some leagues which had planned on its introduction next season, to have second thoughts about bringing it in so soon.

The leadership of the Bundesliga, which had intended to bring in VARs from next season, are understood to be among those considering a delay. In the United States, Major League Soccer is still yet to establish a fixed date to bring in VARs. The Premier League intends to have VARs in place for the 2018-19 season after the system is used at the World Cup finals in Russia next summer.

There are still plans for certain FA Cup third round matches next January – most likely those that are televised – to have VARs, although a final decision is yet to be made and the error in following protocol made by the Italian officiating team in Paris may well convince the FA that the system needs greater refinement.