The Clásico del Astillero
The upcoming Clásico del Astillero on Sunday at the George Capwell stadium will feature the assistance of Video Assistant Referee (VAR), shared by Emelec and Barcelona SC, a source linked to the blue team revealed to EL UNIVERSO on Wednesday, who requested anonymity.
"There is already authorization from the IFAB (International Football Association Board)," the informant revealed.
After Emelec's request to the representatives of the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) and the Professional Football League of Ecuador (LigaPro), the National Arbitration Commission of the FEF only awaited the approval of the IFAB for the use of VAR technology in the Ecuadorian Clásico that will be held at the Capwell on Sunday, November 6, starting at 7:00 PM.
The match corresponds to the eleventh round of the second phase of the LigaPro Serie A championship, in which the host will defend the leadership against the canaries.
Emelec expressed their interest last Monday in the implementation of the VAR system "in order to provide the spectacle with greater guarantees," "as has happened in decisive stages of tournaments organized by the FEF (such as the Ecuadorian Supercup 2020)," "in order for the refereeing team to have greater and better support tools in the delicate function they will perform in the match."
In response to this, the FEF and LigaPro jointly held a virtual press conference yesterday to indicate the viability of the matter in a match of importance in the final stretch of the national tournament that is not decisive for winning the title.
According to Carlos Manzur, head of the National Arbitration Commission of the FEF, "the only possibility for the Arbitration Commission to say it is not possible is if we have a negative response from the IFAB (the entity that dictates the rules of football worldwide) or if the event organizer (LigaPro) says it cannot be done."
He also stated that the cost of using video assistant refereeing is $13,000: $10,000 is the price for renting the equipment and $3,000 to pay the staff operating it.
"The price (13,000) is feasible for Emelec and Barcelona, it also depends on LigaPro (...). It is not a plan that has been scheduled for the whole year, we are facing a specific request from Emelec that has asked for VAR for the Sunday match. And because of that, the Commission has moved all possible gears to address this request. And so we have been in contact with service providers," Manzur pointed out.
This Wednesday, through a source from the millanario club, it was finally revealed that the IFAB approved the FEF's request and the VAR system will be implemented in the Clásico del Astillero valid for round 11 of the second phase of the LigaPro Serie A.
It is expected that either today or on Thursday, the refereeing team that will lead the Ecuadorian football classic will be formally announced. (D)