KUALA LUMPUR: The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system has been approved for use by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referees Committee at the Asian Cup in January 2019 in the UAE from the quarterfinal stage, Australian Associated Press reports. It will be the first time VAR will be adopted at the Asian Cup, which has been expanded to a record 24 nations in 2019.
“The decision to include VAR was only made on 26 September and that has meant a tremendous amount of work has been required to ensure that it can play a role at the tournament from the quarterfinal stages,” AFC general secretary Windsor John said.
The inclusion of VAR at the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup brings the tournament in line with the African Cup of Nations, which has introduced the technology at the same stage.
VAR was also used for the first time at this year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia and has been included from the quarterfinals of South America’s premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores in 2018 as well. It will be introduced in the UEFA Champions League from the 2019-2020 season.
