A-League to adopt major changes in Video Assistant Refereeing trial
Football Federation Australia officials have issued new guidelines for the use of Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) technology in the A-League.
With A-League having become the first professional league in the world to trial the system, the changes aim to reduce the number of interventions and speed up play.
Fans, coaches and players have been increasingly frustrated at the system, under which contentious decisions and missed incidents are reviewed by a fifth official in the stands through video replays.
In addition to contentious decisions, Sydney FC's title-winning captain Alex Brosque this week explained how the technology is affecting the spontaneity of the game, commenting “scoring a goal, you can't celebrate properly as fans or players because you've got to wait two or three minutes before it actually gets given … you want the game to flow and, if a goal is scored, for the emotions to take over.
"The less you see the VAR get involved in matches, the better."
A memo issued to A-League clubs says video referees should not "go looking for infringements that are by definition not match changing".
VARs should only get involved in obvious mistakes or missed incidents, with a high threshold of intervention and a focus on match-changing situations.
Video referees have also been stripped of the power to suggest changing yellow-card decisions to dismissals where the on-field referee has issued a caution.
In tweaking the system, the memo acknowledges the changes "are not completely in line with the trial protocol" agreed with FIFA for the trial.
World football governing body FIFA is reportedly considering introducing VAR for the World Cup in Russia next year.
30th September 2017 - NEW FFA WEBSITES AIM TO ENGAGE FOOTBALL FANS AND PLAYERS
20th December 2016 - FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES $346 MILLION A-LEAGUE BROADCAST DEAL
9th December 2016 - FOOTBALL WELCOMES RECOGNITION AS AUSTRALIA’S TOP PARTICIPATION SPORT
9th October 2016 - SYDNEY DERBY BREAKS A-LEAGUE ATTENDANCE RECORD
14th July 2016 - NEW A-LEAGUE HEAD COMMITS TO EXPANSION
15th June 2016 - CHINESE OWNERS PURCHASE A-LEAGUE CLUB NEWCASTLE JETS
28th April 2016 - A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL SET TO GENERATE RECORD GATE RECEIPTS
8th December 2015 - FFA SURVEY SHOWS BOOM IN FOOTBALL PARTICIPATION
30th October 2015 - FFA ANNOUNCES MAJOR CHANGES IN DIGITAL AND FAN ENGAGEMENT
Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.
However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.
Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.
Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.
Click here to subscribe.
