VAR technology to be used for the first time in India-Bhutan semi-final

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be used for the first time in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship semi-final match between defending champions India and Bhutan, to be played on Saturday in Dhaka. According to a Sportstar report, the objective of using this technology in the tournament is to bring the competition in line with international refereeing standards.

A remote version of VAR technology will be implemented at Dhaka's National Stadium for this match and the subsequent final to be held on November 17. Under this remote VAR system, live footage from the field will be sent to a central VAR operations hub located in Thailand. There, certified Video Match Officials (VMO) will review incidents and assist the on-field referees according to IFAB VAR protocols. Decisions and recommendations made by the VAR team will be communicated directly to the match officials in Dhaka.

SAFF General Secretary Purushottam Kattel told PTI, "We are trying to raise the profile of the SAFF Championship, so the use of remote VAR is a step in that direction. We hope that there are no technical glitches." He further added that this remote VAR is not very different from on-site VAR. Remote VAR with a central hub in Thailand was used in all ASEAN Championship matches, and the same method has been adopted here.

SAFF has collaborated with the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), the regional association of South-East Asian countries, for this. The system is operated by Spain-based FIFA-certified technology provider 'Quality', which has its central operation in Thailand. This company is known for providing VAR solutions in international football competitions.

Speaking on the cost, Kattel stated that it would have been more expensive if the equipment had been brought from Thailand to Dhaka. Nevertheless, the remote VAR will cost 800-900 US dollars per match. A fully equipped Referee Review Area (RRA) and Technical Operations Team Area Monitor (TOTAM) have been installed at Dhaka's National Stadium. Technical experts from the company 'Quality' are working on-site to ensure seamless transmission and operation of the VAR infrastructure.

When asked about the time lag in communication between the central hub in Thailand and the officials in Dhaka, he said that since it was successful in the ASEAN Championship despite the distance between Bangkok and Indonesia being greater than that between Bangkok and Dhaka, there should be no problem here. He added that only strong internet is required to run the system without glitches. All referees and assistant referees appointed for the semi-final and final are certified and trained in VAR procedures.

VAR system has not yet been used in domestic leagues in India, but the technology has been used twice in the country previously. For the first time, it was used in Pune and Navi Mumbai during the quarter-final stage of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup. The second time, the system was fully utilised in Bhubaneswar, Navi Mumbai, and Goa during the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

On the other hand, the nine-time champion Indian team is considered the favourite against Bhutan in the semi-final, even though India is fielding its second-string team. India will look to continue its unbeaten run in the tournament. India topped Group B by defeating Pakistan 3-2 and Maldives 1-0.