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In the 'VAR Experiential Workshop', held in the main auditorium of Videna, everything related to the implementation of this technology in the Liga 1 was explained. There, its application, scope, and details of what this tool that has arrived to make Peruvian football fairer will be. At the moment, it is intended to be used in the Clausura and more than 40 national referees have already been trained. Here are all the details.
When will VAR be used and in which stadiums?
The video assistant referee system will be used from matchday 1 of the Clausura Tournament, which is scheduled to start on Friday, June 23, and for all matches. Therefore, the use of this technology for the last two matchdays of the Apertura Tournament (matchdays 18 and 19) has been ruled out, as initially planned. Now, VAR will be installed in all certified stadiums. If a sports venue does not have this certification, the home club will be obliged to change venue to another authorized one.
To obtain approval, Mediapro, the company in charge of providing the equipment for the use of VAR, reported that they will use the last two matchdays of the Apertura Tournament to obtain certification. For this reason, eight hours before the start of these matches, the necessary equipment for the relevant tests will be installed. Once done, the infrastructure will be removed and the corresponding matches will begin. So far, the only certified stadium is the Alberto Gallardo, where Sporting Cristal plays their home matches.
In what situations does VAR apply and how is it used?
There is a protocol that FIFA requires for the use of VAR: it should only be applied for clear and obvious errors - in order to maximize its benefits - and in four possible scenarios: direct red cards, goals that should or should not be awarded, incidents in the penalty area, and mistaken identity of players. For this, communication between the VAR team and the main referee must always be precise and technical.
Regarding its use, the following three steps are followed: (1) an incident occurs, (2) the VAR checks the incident, and (3) the VAR informs the main referee. After that, the on-field referee is suggested to view the assistance screen to evaluate the situation and make a final decision that belongs solely to him.
How many cameras does FIFA require to use VAR?
According to the FIFA protocol, the minimum number of cameras in a match for the use of VAR is four (two central and two located near the penalty areas). All of them are provided by the Broadcaster of the Liga 1, in this case, 1190 Sports. What Mediapro does is take those images with technology equipment and provide them to the VAR team, which is in charge of analyzing them accurately. At most, the video assistant referee system can use eight cameras.
Can the referee refuse to view the VAR screen?
No. The main referee of the match is obliged to go and view the VAR screen whenever the video assistant referee team suggests reviewing a specific play. After reviewing the images, the final decision lies with the referee, who is not obliged to change his initial position regarding a particular incident. However, there is no time limit for him to make a decision, as the goal is to maximize its benefits. The game will not resume until after the referee's decision.
For now, it has been reported that VAR will be applied to matches in the Liga 1. In that sense, the Women's League and the Reserve Tournament will have to wait a little longer. Likewise, the investment in this technology is being solely financed by the FPF and not by the clubs. However, the Professional Football League has already announced that players from participating teams will be trained on the scope of VAR, so that they have knowledge of what can and cannot be requested on the field.