Video replays will be used at the World Cup for the first time and talks are underway with potential sponsor branding to appear when the technology is used, a FIFA executive said on Monday.

Soccer's rule-making panel met Monday to assess recent trials ahead of video assistant referees (VAR) being officially approved by FIFA later this season for use in Russia in June and July.

Break in play: A giant screen reports an incident is being investigated by VAR during the 2017 Confederations Cup. Credit:Thanassis Stavrakis

"Definitely VAR will happen," FIFA chief commercial officer Philippe Le Floc'h told The Associated Press. "It's great to have technology in football because this is also a fair(ness) thing."

Referees were assisted for the first time by high-tech aids at a World Cup in 2014 when goal-line technology was used. That system sees a message instantly flash on referees' watches saying only whether the ball crossed the line.