PT LIB Belum Pastikan VAR Di Liga 1 Mulai Beroperasi

Asep Saputra, Director of Operations of PT LIB, cannot confirm when VAR will be used in Liga 1 (VOI/Ulfa Gusti).

JAKARTA - The use of video assistant referee (VAR) was echoed that it would begin to be implemented in Liga 1 2023/2024 in February 2024. However, in reality, this has yet to be confirmed.

This was revealed by the Director of Operations of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB), Asep Saputra. He said that VAR will not be used in the 24th week of Liga 1 2023/2024 which is scheduled to roll back on February 4, 2024.

"That (use of VAR in February) is definitely not. VAR is still in phase, we told you earlier, currently we are still processing the mobile VAR and the VAR tools," said Asep when asked about the VAR Liga 1 plan in the Central Jakarta area on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, evening WIB.

In fact, PSSI and LIB hope that VAR can be used in the second round of the 2023/2024 Liga 1 competition. The deadline is after a break of almost two months for the benefit of the Indonesian national team in the 2023 Asian Cup.

To realize the target, PSSI and LIB continue to finalize preparations for optimal operation.

So far, the federation and operators have continued to synergize not only in terms of technological preparation, but also human resources (HR), such as VAR operators and referees.

The same thing from PSSI, human resources are running. Yesterday we just finished on 19 (December) in Jakarta. VAR referees, VAR assistants, and operators have started training together," said Asep.

Regarding the exact time when VAR can be used, Asep does not want to speculate. He only explained that LIB and PSSI continue to take strategic steps for the basic needs of using VAR.

Because, said Asep, in the end the operation decision depends on FIFA's decision. If FIFA has given a green sign, that is a sign that all elements needed for VAR are ready.

"We don't speculate (about the exact time of operation), but our timeline is indeed February 2024. The process is that after all the tools come, the referees are all there, there will be an approval phase," he said.

"What is certain is that the fulfillment of tools is still on track, on schedule. The actual dynamics is in HR because there has been a program until February 2024, but we'll see how it is," said Asep.

Although he has not been able to reveal the exact time, Asep ensured that the readiness of human resources for VAR could be said to be good.

Referee trained by FIFA and VAR operator personnel progresses quickly and opens up opportunities for operation as soon as possible.

"The constraints (HR) are in a scary context, really, nothing. What is certain is that this is the best group of people we have in League 1 and League 2. So far they have accepted and have started to develop."

"When it comes to human resources, it's not scary. This is just a new thing for the referees. We entrust this HR issue to FIFA. We just run it. What kind of fulfillment, we are professionals," explained Asep.