Vietnam, Australia World Cup qualifiers clash to feature VAR

By Hoang Nguyen August 31, 2021 | 04:29 pm PT

Referee Juan Gabriel Benitez refers to VAR in World Cup 2022 South American qualifiers game between Brazil and Venezuela on November 13, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Fernando Bizerra

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will install Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology at Hanoi's My Dinh National Stadium for the World Cup qualifying game between Vietnam and Australia.

According to plan, AFC technical experts, a supervisor team and referees would arrive in Hanoi on Sept. 2. The installment at My Dinh Stadium will begin on Sept. 4, three days before the game. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) will designate a room in My Dinh Stadium for operating purposes.

On Sept. 6, experts and referees would test the VAR tech. This is the first time such equipment is used at My Dinh Stadium.

In recent years, VAR had proved its use by minimizing controversial decisions. The technology can be used to review situations that lead to a goal, a penalty or a red card. Only the referee may call for a video review, while players and coaches are not allowed to pressure the ref.

In the control room, four assistant referees will review footage from many on-field cameras and make and communicate their decisions to the referee through an earpiece. On-field referees can themselves review the footage on a screen near the sideline.