V-League 2023/2024 kicks off: VAR's mark

The opening round of V-League 2023/2024 has 6 matches, 15 goals (average 2.5 goals/match). The biggest highlight of round 1 of V-League 2023/2024 is VAR. This is the first time in the history of the tournament that up to 4 matches apply VAR in one round.

It can be said that the referees started the season smoothly without any notable mistakes. VAR had a positive impact with at least 3 times helping the main referee correct mistakes in important situations. Those were 2 penalties leading to goals in the match between Hai Phong Club and Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Nam Dinh Club winning against Quang Nam Club, and 1 situation of canceling a goal in the match between Hanoi Police Club and Binh Dinh Club.

VAR helps referees correct 3 mistakes in round 1 of V-League 2023/2024. (Photo: VPF)

In all three situations mentioned above, the referee did not determine that there was a foul at the time of the incident. Only after consulting with the assistants in the VAR car and reviewing the video footage, the decision to award a penalty was made.

"VAR is good for V-League and Vietnamese football, creating fair matches," said HAGL coach Kiatisak Senamuang after the draw with Hai Phong . VAR put the mountain town team at a disadvantage in this match, but the Thai coach had no complaints.

"I support VAR because the world has done it. The truth on the field has also proven it," commented coach Van Sy Son of Quang Nam Club - also the team that suffered a penalty because of VAR. Meanwhile, coach Vu Tien Thanh (HCMC Club) expressed "envy" when his team's match did not have VAR. That shows that the appearance of video assistant referees has a positive impact on the V-League.

However, the V-League version of VAR is still not operating at its optimal level. The reason lies in technical and human factors. On social networks, many fans jokingly call the V-League 2023/2024 applying VAR in a "poor family" style.

In the three situations where VAR helped the referee change his decision, the total time to review the play - including watching the video on the field - was about 15 minutes. The ideal standard set by the World Football Federation (FIFA) is under 3 minutes.

The referee still took a long time to consult VAR. (Photo: VPF)

"VAR needs more camera angles to provide better images, thereby saving referees time checking," said Hai Phong FC coach Chu Dinh Nghiem. Limited camera angles and image quality are clearly part of the reason why referees take more time to make judgments.

In addition, TV viewers also noticed that there were some situations where VAR checks were unnecessary. Those were clear situations and the initial decisions of the main referee and the assistant on the field were not wrong. However, in the goal scored by Vu Quang Nam (Ha Tinh) and Rimario Gordon (Thanh Hoa) in the same match, the referee still waited for the advice of the video assistants to confirm the decision.

It should be noted that the appearance of VAR is only a method to support referees in making accurate decisions, limiting mistakes. The ability to judge and decisiveness of the main referee is still a factor that needs to be promoted to ensure that the match is not interrupted much by the effects of VAR.

Overall, the referees and VAR had a smooth start to the 2023/2024 V-League season. However, the Vietnamese version of VAR still has many points that need to be improved and perfected to operate as effectively as possible.

Phuong Mai

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