BARI, Italy -- In 10 seconds, Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers got all the feedback he wanted from the two assistants examining video replays in a truck outside the stadium.Instead of sending off France defender Djibril Sidibe for a hard foul into the left leg of Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi three minutes into a friendly, Kuipers pulled out a yellow card instead.Its exactly what FIFA was hoping for from video assistance tests for referees -- keeping interruptions to a minimum and maintaining the flow of play.The feedback I got in just 10 seconds convinced me to give a yellow instead of sending off the player, Kuipers said Friday, a day after Frances 3-1 win.FIFA President Gianni Infantino hopes video assistant referees will be used at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.Last night a page of football history was written, said Infantino, who attended the match in Bari. Finally, after years of words, weve moved on to facts.Experiments are also being held in national club competitions this season, including Australias A-League, the Bundesliga, the league and cups in Portugal, Major League Soccer, and Serie A.Video replay officiating would be restricted to decisions on goals being scored, penalties being awarded, players being sent off, and cases of mistaken identity.The only technology currently used in soccer is to rule on disputed goals.We can no longer allow the entire world to see something big where the only one who cant see it, because its not permitted, is the referee, Infantino said.Kuipers also relied on video assistance when Italy protested for a perceived handball by Layvin Kurzawa following a header from De Rossi in the first half.I noticed that the players accepted the decisions more calmly, Kuipers said. Its better for everyone, even for the refs so theyre calmer and surer of themselves.The test was considered semi-live because Kuipers did not review any replays on the field.FIFA has not introduced on-site screen reviewing yet. Instead, Kuipers was assisted through radio communications.Getting back to the Sidibe foul, Kuiper recounted how Italys players were demanding a red card.So I had the moment to speak to the VAR, he gave me the input to give a yellow and the players accepted it, Kuipers said. (Giorgio) Chiellini for example said, `Clear rosso, rosso (red), and I said, `Its a yellow card. Its enough. So they accept it and its finished. Wholesale Custom Blackhawks Shirts .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Custom Blackhawks T-shirts . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. http://www.customblackhawksjersey.com/ . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Custom Blackhawks Jerseys . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Clark Griswold Jersey Large . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. NEW YORK -- Denard Span singled up the middle with two outs in the sixth inning of Wednesday nights NL wild-card game, the first hit off the New York Mets Noah Syndergaard in a matchup tied 0-0.Syndergaard struck out 10 and walked two, fanning four straight in the second and third innings, and then four in a row before Span singled on a slider with a 1-2 count.Giants ace Madison Bumgarner allowed a pair of singles and a double through five innings.Rene Rivera was erased on James Loneys double-play grouunder after his leadoff hit in the third, Asdrubal Cabrera was stranded after his one-out single in the fourth and the Mets failed to capitalize on rookie T.dddddddddddd.J. Riveras leadoff double in the fifth. Bumgarner threw 69 pitches in the first four innings, including seven in each of the first three.The winner opens the NL Division Series on Friday at the Chicago Cubs. ' ' '