The VAR system has been approved for use at next year's Asian Cup from the quarter-final stage.

The AFC Referees Committee agreed on Friday to introduce the video assistant referee for the final seven matches of the tournament, which kicks off in the UAE in January.

VAR was used during this year's World Cup. Credit:AP

It will be the first time VAR has been used at an Asian Cup, which has been expanded to a record 24 nations in 2019.

"The decision to include VAR was only made on September 26 and that has meant a tremendous amount of work has been required to ensure that it can play a role at the tournament from the quarter-final stages," AFC general secretary Dato' Windsor John said.