LaLiga takes part in IFAB seminar on video refereeing

LaLiga joined representatives from fellow leading leagues and governing bodies from across the world at a recent seminar organised by The International Football Association Board (The IFAB) in New Jersey, the United States. This event included a workshop offering an insight into the tools that will be used in the trials that The IFAB has approved in order to test out the video assistant referee (VAR) system over the next two years.

Speaking about this workshop, IFAB secretary Lukas Brud noted that beforehand, "the only experiments… conducted in the USA and the Netherlands, and elsewhere, [had] been 'offline.'" As a result, the video assistant referees had been "able to familiarise themselves with the technological setup, assess video replays and practice making decisions on [sic] crucial moments" but not to "communicate with the referee." On the other hand, this event, which enjoyed the support of MLS and the New York Red Bulls, provided a platform for "testing the technology in a live environment where the video assistant referee is communicating with the referee to help him reduce clear errors in match-changing situations."

Friendly games between local youth sides offered an opportunity for participants to gain an appreciation of how the VAR system works, from the structure in place in the control room to the way in which the main referee can consult video footage on a playback device pitchside so as to aid key decisions.

Six countries have already signed up to take part in the upcoming trials, which were rubber-stamped at The IFAB Annual General Meeting this past March.

In The IFAB's words, strict limitations have been imposed on the trials in order to "minimise the impact of reviews on the flow and excitement of the game." A protocol has been drawn up in conjunction with FIFA's Football Technology Innovation Department, according to which video refereeing "will only be used for clear errors in match-changing situations – goals scored, penalty decisions, direct red cards and mistaken identity."

The IFAB is devoting substantial effort at present to liaising with competition organisers with a view to preparing for the trials, particularly with regard to training referees and video assistant referees. On this note, several workshops have been held, including most recently in New Jersey, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and more are in the pipeline. All of this is geared towards the participating countries kicking off offline trials in August, with 'live' experiments to follow in 2017.

The IFAB's ultimate goal is to make a decision in 2018 or 2019 as to whether video assistant refereeing should be rolled out in football on a widespread basis.