Speaking in Spanish in Chile on Wednesday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino reiterated how he hoped the 2018 World Cup in Russia would have Video Assistant Referees after trials had shown “very positive results.” In Australia, VARs have already been implemented earlier this month.
The A-League after more than a year of preparations and dozens of trial runs became the first top-level domestic football league in the world to implement the live VAR on April 7. One day later, VAR had made its impact when upon further review Sydney FC was awarded a penalty kick resulting in a goal after replay revealed a Wellington player had committed a hand ball in the penalty area.
The VAR system may be called on by the referee to provide assistance on match-changing decisions such as goal or no goal, penalty or no penalty, direct red cards and mistaken identity. VAR is only used after the referee has made an initial decision or if a serious incident is missed.
“Since the use of video technology was first mooted, FFA has been at the vanguard for the use of the system and we took on an audacious plan to ensure that we could produce a compliant system for the use in the Hyundai A-League as soon as possible,” Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop said in a statement.
“This weekend is the culmination of an enormous amount of hard work to ensure that the VAR system is ready to be used for live, competitive football matches.”
FFA worked with VAR partner Hawk-Eye and broadcast partner FOX Sports to provide infrastructure, Gallop said.
More leagues around the world are expected to implement the system, including MLS after its All-Star game in August.
The Malaysia Super League announced earlier this month that VAR would be implemented in 2018.
