VAR to make debut in India at AFC Women's Asian Cup

VAR to make momentous debut in India at AFC Women’s Asian Cup

By Team ISN January 8, 2022

The upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup is set to make history as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be utilized without precedent for India from the quarterfinals phase of the continental rivalry.

The tournament will be played across three venues in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune from January 20 to February 6.

The event will see VAR making its tournament debut when the teams walk out for the games from January 30 onwards.

The technology will be utilized till the last match on February 6 across the two knockout venues – DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai and the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune.

Preparations for installation and arrangement of the technology have as of now started in the particular venues.

Aside from the arenas on match days, the referees’ training sites will be furnished with a comparable VAR setup and test systems will likewise be made accessible to the refs in their lodging.

The AFC is leaving no stones unturned in guaranteeing the best standards of refereeing at the tournament.

During the tournament, six committed video match officials will approach seven distinctive live camera feeds to examine each activity on the field.

There are four categories of decisions that VAR can review — goal/no goal, penalty/no penalty, direct red card, and mistaken identity in awarding a red or yellow card.

Alternatively, the on-field referee may choose to conduct an On Field Review (OFR) by halting the game and reviewing footage from the screen which will be installed in the Referee Review Area behind the fourth official’s bench, just outside the touchline of the playing pitch.

At all times, the on-field referee can ignore the advice from the VAR.