VAR set for AFC Champions League debut

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 24 (IANS) The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be used from the quarter-final stage of the 2020 AFC Champions League, Asia’s football governing body said on Monday.

“The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) commitment to ensure Asian refereeing continues to set new benchmarks was further underlined after it confirmed the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system from the quarter-final stage of the 2020 AFC Champions League – the first time that VAR will be introduced in the AFC’s club competitions,” a statement on AFC’s official website said.

Having organised numerous VAR courses and seminars since March 2017, the AFC has a proven track record in the implementation of the VAR system which has been endorsed by both FIFA and the IFAB.

Additionally, to further strengthen the AFC’s capabilities in the VAR system application in the AFC Champions League, a virtual AFC VAR Information Officer (VIO) Workshop 2020 will be organised on Wednesday to ensure VIOs are well informed on the latest VAR developments.

The VAR system, which aims to provide minimum interference with maximum benefit, is limited to four game-changing decisions or incidents, specifically – goal or no goal, penalty-kicks, direct red cards and mistaken identity decisions, the statement further read.

–IANS

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