‘Big ticket’ A-League matches get special VAR treatment
Fox Sports’ Murray Shaw has admitted the video assistant referee has many more cameras at “big ticket” A-League clashes than “average” matches.
The video assistant referee has many more available eyes for judging critical errors at big ticket A-League clashes like Sunday’s clash between Sydney and Melbourne Victory.
That clash, a Sydney or Melbourne derby or finals have up to seven cameras more than an “average” match like what was on show when Adelaide United beat Wellington Phoenix 3-1 on Saturday.
Fox Sports executive producer of football Murray Shaw says the exclusive A-League broadcaster is providing VAR every requirement demanded by FIFA and the International Football Association Board.
Shaw claimed Fox Sports has eight cameras for every A-League match and a standard five cameras at W-League matches which doesn’t use VAR technology.
“At a bigger game like a Sydney or a Melbourne derby we’ll put more cameras on, up to 14 or 15,’’ Shaw said.
“And the Socceroos (v Lebanon in Sydney on Tuesday) had that number.”
Shaw says Fox Sports deploys two cameras placed in the stands on the halfway line, two for off-side, two at opposite ends of the ground near the goalposts, one on halfway for replays and one running camera based on the sidelines.
FIFA and IFAB have demanded a minimum of four cameras available for VAR use.
Although the A-League broadcast meets FIFA’S VAR standards, Football Federation Australia’s replay technology pales in comparison to the recent FIFA World Cup.
VAR had access to 33 broadcast cameras, eight were super slow-motion and six ultra slow-motion cameras.
“The minimum camera set-up for the use of VAR technology consists of four cameras, (a) main wide, main tight and two cameras that can be used to assess off-side situation,’’ said a FIFA spokesman.
“Those four cameras must always be available for every stadium test.”.
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