March 10 – The Dutch FA (KNVB) has staged a video assistant referee (VAR) technology test event en route to the 2022 World Cup with a focus on fine-tuning the technology and making it more affordable.

“These test events are optimal opportunity for the exchange with the industry to make VAR technology more affordable to enable its use at all levels of the game,” said FIFA’s Director of Football Technology & Innovation Johannes Holzmüller.

It was a second workshop that centred on improving VAR, which, since its introduction, has sometimes caused consternation in the club game, but was perceived to be a success at the last World Cup.

The event highlighted “more affordable VAR systems to allow competitions with restricted budgets to be able to access and use of VAR in more countries and competitions; technological requirements for a global standard of VAR technology across football” and “new ideas and proposals which were presented by the industry to improve VAR technology further.”

“One of the next steps of the working group is to discuss further steps regarding the development of possible VAR ‘light’ systems over the coming weeks in close consultation with the industry,” said Holzmüller.

“We will set our focus clearly on continued development of additional and more accurate information to assist the decision making process. The VAR review process should become as efficient as possible with the final goal to make VAR technology more affordable all levels. Technology is evolving and we don’t want to stand by and watch, on the contrary.”

In the near future, the world federation will organise more test events around the world to improve VAR in time for major international competitions.

Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1600489516labto1600489516ofdlr1600489516owedi1600489516sni@o1600489516fni1600489516