When Will VAR Be Used In Indonesia? Erick Thohir Will Realize In The Near Future

VAR illustration in football (Unsplash/Bence Balla-Schottner)

YOGYAKARTA - Video assistant referee (VAR) is advanced technology to make football matches more fair and professional. Football competitions in Europe and a number of countries have implemented VAR in every match. So when is VAR used in Indonesia?

VAR is a video technology used as a referee's tool in making decisions during football matches. This technology works by recording football action on the field. The footage was then seen by the referee to review the replay when there was an incident during the match.

VAR has also been implemented in several countries in Southeast Asia, namely Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Erick Thohir, Chairman of PSSI, conveyed the good news that VAR will be applied in football matches in the country in the near future. Football lovers are also wondering when VAR will be used in Indonesia?

PSSI chairman Erick Thohir said VAR technology will be used in Indonesia starting February 2024. VAR will be implemented in the 2023/2024 Liga 1 competition to increase the professionalism of organizing domestic football matches.

"VAR will be an international standard show, God willing, in February it can run. Training from PT Liga Indonesia Baru [LIB] has started in the next few weeks," said Erick Thohir during a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday (15/6).

Ferry Paulus, President Director of PT LIB, also said that Liga 1 will use Var technology starting February 2024. Currently, his party has made preparations for the use of VAR, which will be implemented in all stadiums.

"We are also preparing for VAR, on June 20 it is kickoff [training]. God willing, in February [2024] it can be carried out in all stadiums," said Ferry Paulus.

Ferry Paulus assessed that the use of VAR technology is an effort to improve facilities and infrastructure in stadiums. The implementation of the implementation of VAR technology is carried out by involving the government. With the VAR in football matches, the club's official, players, and spectators will also be satisfied with the results of the match that takes place.

"Investasinya memang tidak kecil, tapi setelah dari investasi tadi, yang jauh lebih penting bahwa sarana dan prasarana dari stadion juga diperbaiki. Ini akan ada campuran dari pemerintah, jadi kita melakukan pembenahan, perbaikan, peningkatan hingga bisa menjadikan tontonan yang menarik," ucap Ferry Paulus.

PSSI and PT LIB will implement VAR technology as an effort to improve the quality of football competitions in Indonesia. This also reflects on the ranking of the Indonesian League which is currently slumping at the Southeast Asian level.

"It is true what was conveyed by the Chairman of PSSI, Mr. Erick Thohir, that our football had to advance to class. So the first time Mr. Erick served as Chairman, we have been reduced to carry out the transformation," continued Ferry Paulus.

"It's sad to look back, the Indonesian League was ranked 8th in Asia in 2003, 2004, 2005, number two in Southeast Asia below Thailand. Today we are ranked sixth in Southeast Asia, sad and very sad," said Ferry Paulus.

Demikianlah informasi kapan VAR digunakan di Indonesia. Teknologi VAR bakal diterapkan di Liga 1 mulai Februari 2024 nanti. Kabar ini tentunya menjadi angin kuat bagi official klub, para pemain, hingga penggemar sepak bola di tanah air.

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