FIFA to introduce cheaper VAR for poor nations

A match official in the English Premier League consults VAR during a game | Courtesy Image

FOOTBALL FIFA to introduce cheaper VAR for poor nations

Fred Mwambu 17:54 - 16.03.2023

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has revealed that the soccer body is planning to invent a lighter version of the video assistant referee commonly known as VAR.

The president was speaking during the 73rd edition of the FIFA Congress that was held in Kigali, Rwanda on Thursday morning where he was re-elected unopposed for another four years.

According to Infantino, the world body has been experimenting with different technologies that can help the nations that cannot afford the standard technology.

“We are continuing to improve the laws of the game together with IFAB,” Infantino remarked while revealing that more than 100 countries use the technology.

The Scottish football association estimated the cost of a standard VAR to cost about $1.45 million (about UGX 5.45 B) per season for their 12-team topflight league.

The FIFA boss says that the new inventions will cost less: “We will be introducing VAR lite to allow those with lesser means to have it."

"We have tested it in the Futsal World Cup and it worked because we want each of the 211 members to have some technology to aid the referees,” he revealed.

According to his revelations, there are two types invented; the ‘VAR Lite’ will require at least 4-7 cameras while those countries in dire state can use what he referred to as “VAR-zero” which needs only one camera.

VAR was introduced officially in April 2017 and was first used in a match between Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix, in the Australia A-League.

The technology is used to review and make decisions on four key incidents during the match including a goal, a red card, a penalty decision and a mistaken identity when issuing a card.