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VAR Debuts in SAFF Championship Semis
14 Nov
Summary
- Remote VAR technology will be used for the first time in SAFF Championships semifinals.
- Footage will be transmitted to a central VAR hub in Thailand for review.
- India is favored against Bhutan in their semifinal match.
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championships will feature Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology for the first time during its semifinal matches. This implementation aims to align the tournament with international refereeing standards. A remote version of VAR will be utilized, transmitting live match footage to a centralized VAR operations hub located in Thailand.
Certified Video Match Officials (VMOs) in Thailand will review incidents and assist the on-field referees in Dhaka, adhering to IFAB VAR Protocol. This system, operated by FIFA-certified provider Quality, has previously been used in ASEAN Championships. The SAFF General Secretary noted this approach is more cost-effective than on-site equipment.
Despite fielding a second-string squad, defending champions India are strong favorites against Bhutan in their semifinal clash. India topped their group with two wins, while Bhutan advanced on goal difference. The other semifinal will see hosts Bangladesh face Pakistan. All referees involved in the semifinals and final are trained in VAR procedures.
