VAR to be implemented in Singapore Premier League in 2023
SINGAPORE — The much-debated Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is set to be used in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) for the new 2023 season.
When implemented, Singapore will be the third country in Southeast Asia - and 11th in Asia - to use VAR in its local professional league, said the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) in a media release on Tuesday (18 October).
"The entire VAR implementation process can take between 12 to 18 months, according to the Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP) developed by FIFA," said FAS director (referees) Nazeer Hussain, who leads the VAR implementation project.
"We are currently at the third of five stages of the IAAP, which focuses on the preparation and training of match officials and VAR technology. The training sessions are going well and we are scheduling visits for FIFA officials to come down, assess our progress, and approve the use of VAR in Singapore.
"There’s still work to be done, but if all goes well, we are confident of implementing VAR in the SPL next year."
Idea mooted by late FAS president
FAS said that the move to bring in VAR technology to the SPL began in 2021, with the idea mooted by the late former FAS president Lim Kia Tong.
COVID-19 restrictions meant that key Fifa experts could fly to Singapore only in February this year, to provide resources and expertise to the team.
A two-day workshop was conducted by Fifa's VAR project manager (refereeing) Michael Bailey, project leader of VAR implementation Dirk Schlemmer, and football technology manager Bhaveshan Moorghen, and it helped to lay the foundations to kickstart the project.
Nazeer said that his team are eager to implement VAR in Singapore, and it stems from their desire to enhance the level of officiating by match officials here.
“The FAS is constantly striving to improve the quality of football here and one key element of this is the performance of our match officials," he said.
"We want them to be kept abreast with the latest developments in officiating, both in terms of their knowledge of the game and by equipping them with technological aids."
Singaporean VAR referee at the 2022 World Cup Finals
Nazeer could also count on Singapore referee Taqi Jahari – who will be a Video Match Official (VMO) at the upcoming 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar - and Fifa technical instructor John Chia to equip and train the prospective officials to meet the technical requirements as stipulated by Fifa.
Taqi, who was assistant VAR for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics men's football final, believes he can use his unique experiences to help the trainees.
"I am uniquely privileged in the sense that I can contextualise the information taught, and share my knowledge and experiences with the trainees on how to apply them to match scenarios," he said.
"The lessons become more realistic and less dry, which help to enhance the learning experience of the trainees.
“They have been great students and have displayed great commitment to show up at Jalan Besar Stadium every weekend for trainings and assessments. This has undoubtedly helped to smoothen the implementation process.”
Nazeer wants his team to remain focused before the next SPL season begins, so that all officials are properly trained before VAR is being implemented.
“We will continue to leave no stone unturned for the remainder of the implementation process. We want to ensure everything is in place and our officials are properly trained, in order to deliver the best possible experience for both the league and its fans," he said.
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