It's time to implement VAR in the V-League.

At Vinh Stadium, Song Lam Nghe An and Becamex Binh Duong delivered a thrilling back-and-forth match that delighted fans. Trailing the visitors, Song Lam Nghe An had an early opportunity to equalize after Jordy Soladio Kandolo was fouled in the 53rd minute. Referee Tran Van Lap, despite being very close, did not award a penalty to the home team. Their late attacking efforts resulted in an equalizer, but the referee's decision almost robbed Song Lam Nghe An of their first victory of the season.

Khanh Hoa FC was disappointed when the referee "deprived" them of a victory in Round 5 of the V-League 2023. (Photo: VPF)

In a dramatic turn of events, referee Truong Hong Vu angered the audience with his decision to award a penalty to the home team, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, at the end of the match, saving the home team at Thien Truong Stadium from a defeat and causing the visiting team, Khanh Hoa, to miss out on a victory.

Although the VFF Referee Committee affirmed that referee Vu applied the rules correctly and made accurate decisions, the coaching staff of Khanh Hoa team and the fans disagreed with this assessment. They argued that both goals in the 1-1 draw came from incorrect decisions by the refereeing team, with the focus being on the poor officiating and professional conduct of referee Truong Hong Vu.

Last season, the V-League caused outrage due to the poor performance of its referees, forcing the organizers to spend money inviting international referees to officiate the crucial rounds of the 2022 V-League. While international referees aren't immune to situational errors or incorrect judgments, they certainly don't consistently make professional mistakes like the referees in the V-League.

If training courses are not enough to improve refereeing skills, then the VFF and VPF should consider investing in and introducing VAR technology into the V-League as soon as possible, bringing fairness to the teams and reducing controversy after dramatic matches.

T. Phuoc

Source: https://nld.com.vn/the-thao/den-luc-ap-dung-var-o-v-league-20230408203305679.htm