Fifa president Infantino on Russia 2018: It is the best World Cup ever

Praise also from the football chief for VAR and the impact it has had on ruling out goals for offside

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has given his thumbs up to the 2018 World Cup and to the use of VAR. AP Photo

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has declared the 2018 World Cup as the best ever and also hailed the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system as a success.

Speaking at the traditional tournament overview media conference, Infantino said: "For a couple of years I have been saying this will be the best World Cup ever and today I can say that with conviction - it is the best World Cup ever.

"I would like to thank everyone. The main actors are on the pitch - the players, referees and coaches - but, of course, there are also all those who have worked to make sure everything has worked smoothly, the Russians.

"A big thank you to the Russian government and the Russian President Vladimir Putin, the local organising committee, the Russian Football Union, the volunteers, the heart and smile of the World Cup, all those people, more than 100,000, who helped in one capacity or another."

_____________

Read more

Extra Time podcast: Comeback kings Croatia to come up short against Mbappe

World Cup 2018 final guide and predictions: Mbappe to inspire France to victory

Nestor Pitana to referee World Cup final between France and Croatia

_____________

Infantino added that goals scored from offside positions will be a thing of the past, at least in competitions where VAR is used.

"This is progress, this is better than the past," he said. "VAR is not changing football, it is cleaning football, making it more honest and transparent and helping referees to make the right decisions."

"The goal scored from an offside position is finished in football, at least in football with VAR," he added.

"You will never see any more a goal scored in an offside position, it's finished because either you are or are not offside, these are clear decisions."