INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
In a recent press conference, former referee and now chairman of FIFA's referees committee, Pierluigi Collina said that VAR at the Russia
If this is indeed the case - and who are we to doubt FIFA's statisticians - then why has there been so much controversy around the
This was after the technology was labeled a shambles when it was trialed in the 2017 Confederations Cup.It was August, 2017, and Sydney FC
were playing against Perth Glory
The score was 3-0 to Sydney FC but two of these goals, before the arrival of VAR, wouldn't have been given
VAR reversed the decision of two disallowed goals, both originally flagged as offside
The result was a controversial one but was accepted
credit: OZAN KOSE / AFP)The video monitor used on-pitch by referees (Credit: Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)In October, the two
This time, it was a VAR decision too far for Perth Glory manager Kenny Lowe who, after the game, said the use of VAR was "making a mockery
The reason: the referee took four minutes consulting VAR, only to confirm that a penalty that was originally given should have been
There is a stop-start nature to football (inevitable with free kicks, corners and cards) but VAR was shifting it to something closer to the
NFL and those on the pitch, let alone the fans, weren't happy.The FFA (Football Federation Australia) responded in the only way it knew how,
better communication protocols to ensure no repeat of this incident," it read.The VAR team in the VOR roomSkip to the World Cup and FIFA
decided that, despite many niggles and much backlash, VAR was actually ready for the big league and a whole lot of preparation has gone into
The idea is that it doesn't want to change the game but bring it into the modern day, with the hope that there will never be a Hand of God
But how does it actually workHow VAR works12 referees have been chosen to be video assistant referees and they won't set foot on the pitch,
but be in a VOR (video operation room)
They were all chosen as they have experience with this type of video technology in the countries they are from.Every game has four referees
glued to video screens: one video assistant referee (the main VAR) and three assistant video assistant referees (AVAR1, AVAR2 and AVAR3).The
main VAR has one video feed that they watch, and underneath this a monitor comprising split screen showing four feeds
cameras that aren't used anywhere else
Each of the 12 stadiums' video feeds are sent to this room (and each stadium has 33 cameras) through fibre optics
It's also through this system that the on-pitch referee speaks to the VAR team.In the knockout stages, two extra slow-motion cameras are
installed behind the goals to offer more choice for the VAR crew.When is VAR usedVAR can only be summoned through certain ways
by the on-field referee - that's when you see them running over to a monitor - when a goal's been scored and there is the potential of an
off-side ruling or foul committed
radio comms) for lesser penalty issues and cases of mistaken identity.To make all of this work, the following tech companies are used -
Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Crescent Comms (audio) and Hawk-Eye Innovations (video); Goal-Line Technology (GLT): Hawk-Eye Innovations.The
results so farIf you were to go by Twitter, then VAR has both its fans and its detractors
BBC Five Live radio host and lifelong football fan Danny Baker is quite succinct in his thoughts about VAR (please skip these, if you are
is a little more reasoned.Collymore is right, VAR is making a difference in the World Cup
Yes, it got off to a shaky start
Diego Costa said "it can make you look stupid" when he took the accolade of being the first footballer at a World Cup final to be questioned
correct at time of writing).That is from 335 incidences analysed by VAR, where 17 reviews were made and 14 decisions changed as a
what's possible in the future, but I think it's a bit early for that now
I agree it would be interesting, though, and would perhaps make decisions better accepted by the football community."A referee checking a
(Credit: Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Whatever happens with VAR and the World Cup, there's no doubt the technology has made an
impact; it's a talking point and the cause of many an argument up and down the country
voted against using VAR in the 2018/19 season, with two-thirds of the clubs voting to defer the use and instead test the technology in the
