Referee's Decision Has Made Noise During Liga 1 2023/2024 In Just Two Weeks, Persebaya Coach Asks VAR To Be Accelerated

Persebaya Surabaya coach, Aji Santoso. (Doc. Persebaya's official website)

SURABAYA - The 2023/2024 Liga 1 competition will only use video assistant referee (VAR) technology in the second round. However, several parties have requested that the new technology be implemented immediately.

The reason is, a number of referee decisions in the first two weeks of Liga 1 2023/2024 have caused a number of controversies. The commotion arose because several justices in the field were judged to have made the wrong decisions.

Persebaya Surabaya coach, Aji Santoso, is among those who hope that the use of VAR will be accelerated soon. According to him, the use of VAR can reduce the risk of mistakes as happened in a number of matches at the start of the Indonesian League 1 season for the 2023/2024 season.

"VAR is certainly very useful, football advances like in Europe all using VAR, in Thailand and Vietnam have also used VAR, because it is one of the requirements to reduce the risk of mistakes like yesterday's GBT," said Aji Santoso.

According to the coach who has the UEFA Pro license, the moment when Song Ui-yong's clothes were withdrawn during Persebaya's match against Barito at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, if seen again with VAR, there could be a penalty decision.

"Once again, in my opinion, if the VAR is needed as soon as possible, it requires high costs, but it is indeed a process for the development of football and it should require high financial needs," said the Malang coach, as reported by Antara.

Even though the VAR has been announced, it will be used this season, he continued, it would be even better if it was accelerated due to the controversial many referee decisions.

"It has been announced, but if it is used faster it will be better. Not only during Persebaya against Barito, but there are several other matches such as Arema against Persib and Persita Tangerang as well as PSIS, it needs VAR," he said.

Therefore, the coach who was born in April 1970 hopes that with the use of VAR, the referee will know more about everything that is not visible to the naked eye while on the field.

"All yesterday's events need to be VAR, how the players fall outside or inside continue such as violations at GBT, it is necessary to reduce the risk of error, so there must be a VAR," said Aji.

Previously, General Chairperson of the All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir announced that the use of VAR for the Indonesian League 1 will be implemented starting February 2024, especially facilities in several stadiums that have met the requirements, such as at the Surabaya GBT Stadium.

However, the man who currently also serves as Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) also reminded all elements, from local governments to supporters to maintain stadiums and facilities to remain feasible and safe for the entire community.