The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championships is set to reach a significant milestone this Saturday as it introduces the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for the first time in the tournament's history. The technology will be deployed for the semi-final clash between defending champions India and Bhutan at the National Stadium in Dhaka, with the same protocol remaining in place for the final on November 17.
To facilitate this, the tournament is utilizing a remote VAR model. Live match footage will be transmitted from the stadium in Dhaka to a centralized operations hub located in Thailand. At this facility, certified Video Match Officials will review incidents and provide guidance to the on-field referees, adhering strictly to the IFAB VAR Protocol. Communication between the remote team and the officials in Dhaka will be direct, ensuring that decisions are relayed efficiently during play.
Technology and Implementation Details
SAFF General Secretary Purushottam Kattel confirmed that the decision to adopt remote VAR is part of a broader effort to elevate the profile and professional standards of the competition. The federation has partnered with the ASEAN Football Federation to utilize a system operated by Quality, a Spanish-based, FIFA-certified technology provider. This same setup has previously been employed for matches in the ASEAN Championships.
While the infrastructure includes a Referee Review Area and a Technical Operations Team Area Monitor at the National Stadium, the remote nature of the hub is intended to manage costs, with the federation estimating an expense of USD 800-900 per match. Kattel expressed confidence in the system's reliability, noting that the distance between Bangkok and Dhaka is comparable to other regions where the technology has functioned successfully. He emphasized that the primary requirement for a seamless experience is a robust internet connection.
Tournament Context and Previous Usage
Although VAR has not yet been integrated into India’s domestic league structure, the technology has appeared in the country on two prior occasions. It was first used during the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup and subsequently during the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. All officials assigned to the upcoming SAFF semi-finals and final have undergone the necessary training and certification to operate within the VAR framework.
Heading into the semi-final, India remains the team to beat, having topped Group B with victories over Pakistan and the Maldives. Despite fielding a second-rung squad, they enter the match as favorites against a Bhutanese side that qualified for the knockout stages by finishing second in Group A on goal difference. The second semi-final of the day will see tournament hosts Bangladesh face Pakistan.
