The biggest football competition of the 2018 World Cup will be held starting Thursday (14/6) tonight. And in this edition, will be used for the first time VAR technology (Video Assistant Referee) to help referee performance and avoid controversy in a game.
This technology will assist the referee in making fair decisions of fairness. VAR is considered necessary to apply in the 2018 World Cup because the referee is not a perfect man, which makes VAR function to facilitate the performance of referees on the field.
Although the development is new in the early stages, but VAR technology is actually something simple. The VAR can be referred to as an 'additional referee' who oversees the match and provides decision advice to field judges. Although in practice more complicated than imagined
How VAR Works
As reported by the Independent, there are 13 referees who can be selected to serve as a referee video assistant. They will all sit in a special area of Moscow, unaffected by the location of a match.
While working out of the field, the VAR referee will be using the full uniform as when on duty in the field.
One of them will then be selected to monitor one game and they will have a team of three assistant referees.
From there, the referees will watch the live broadcast of the game with access to all available cameras inside the match stadium, including slow motion cameras. They can watch every camera as needed.
VAR will watch the game in full and if they see something wrong, then they can send a notice to the referee. Conversely, if the referee feels something is wrong, then he can access the VAR.
Even so, VAR is only a role as a suggestor. All decisions will be made by the referee in the field, even if the referee chooses to take a decision different from the VAR suggestion.
What can VAR help?
FIFA may have brought technology into the World Cup. However, the international football federation remains to limit what things can be helped.
- Goal line. The system from VAR can be used to check whether the ball has crossed the goal line or not. This technology will determine the endorsement of goals.
- Penalty. For a penalty, the referee can ask VAR help to see if a penalty should be awarded or not. The referee will witness reruns of all incidents inside the penalty box.
- Red card. If the referee has decided on a violation, then VAR may be used to help him determine whether the offense is worthy of a red card or not. This may still be the most controversial thing in the VAR technology used.
- The identity error. One of the things that VAR's job is to make sure there are no 'wrong' players on the pitch. This ability can be exploited for example the referee mistakenly gives a red card to different players.
When is VAR used?
The VAR system focuses on referees, not on match audiences. In some situations, the referee will get the message through the earpiece or earpiece used on a decision being reviewed by VAR.
Then he will get a notification from the VAR referee, whether he should change his decision or not. So, the audience can not see the communication process is happening.
In addition, to use the VAR also the referee can give a signal indicating a TV by forming a box by hand. The referee VAR will then contact him through his earpiece.
Another way to use VARs is that referees can go to a 'little station' that shows match footage on the sidelines. The referee may see some replay of the matches desired to help him make the decision.
Still a controversy
It took a long time to introduce VAR. And mostly because people are afraid this technology will disrupt the course of a natural match.
Some critics say referee steps that take the decision using VAR will disrupt the game. In addition, the use of VAR can also make a game more confusing.
Technology is indeed present to facilitate human life, but not to make the referees become lazy and really rely on technology in making decisions.
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