World Cup coaches brace for VAR ‘modern life’
WORLD Cup coaches expressed a quiet confidence on Wednesday about Video Assistant Referee technology ahead of its likely adoption for this year’s showpiece event in Russia this summer.
Representatives from the 32 teams to have qualified for the World Cup gathered in the Black Sea resort of Sochi for a briefing on how “modern life” was taking over the beautiful game.
Video Assistant Referee ( VAR) technology is expected to be given the green light by the International Football Association Board when the body that determines the laws of the game meets on Saturday.
VAR has been heavily promoted by world football’s governing body FIFA, despite its implementation this season in leading leagues such as the German Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A not convincing everyone.
Earlier this week, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said European football’s governing body would not introduce VAR in next season’s Champions League due to ongoing “confusion” surrounding its use.
But coaches emerging from the Sochi meeting said they were ready to ring in the changes – even if the system had not ironed out all the kinks.
“This is the new life. This is modern life,” said Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz. “It is obvious that football cannot go on with its eyes closed to the modern world.”
VAR can only be used when there is doubt surrounding any of four key game-changing situations: after a goal, penalty decisions, after a straight red card or in cases of mistaken identity.
Two of the top complaints have involved VAR either being used too often and slowing down the game or – conversely – not being called on in decisive moments.
Some head coaches said Russia will be something of a test case about which it was premature to pass judgement.
“VAR is coming to eliminate mistakes by the referee. It’s actually something that makes the game fair,” said Saudi Arabia assistant coach Manuel Suarez.
“It’s something to improve football, we suppose,” said Uruguay assistant coach Celso Otero.
“I think VAR will be approved and then we will evaluate it.”