Australia could feature in trial of VAR audio under plans to win more backing for video ref system
World football chiefs hope to make VAR decisions more transparent for fans and Australia could be at the forefront of its plans.
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Exclusive: World football chiefs will next week consider plans to allow live broadcast of the VAR’s discussions with referees during a game – and Australia could be at the forefront of it.
The head of the body that governs football’s rules, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), revealed to The Saturday Telegraph that it will consider two options at its annual meeting next Saturday – either a straightforward live broadcast of the VAR’s discussions with the referee, or the referee himself explaining the decision to viewers and fans once it has been reviewed by the VAR.
IFAB’s general secretary, Lukas Brud, admitted the move would be “very radical”, after FIFA has for years steadfastly refused to allow any live use of referees’ audio contact with other officials, which comes on heavily encrypted channels.
Ex-players and commentators such as Gary Lineker have called for greater transparency in VAR and for fans to be able to understand how and why decisions are made.
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Though Brud cautioned that IFAB would not simply give the green light to one of the options immediately, one obvious plan likely to be under discussion at IFAB’s meeting is a trial to test what Brud said were “very complex” issues over how to integrate the audio into television and stadium broadcasts.
The A-League is certain to volunteer for such a trial, having sought permission to use the VAR audio in broadcasts since it became one of the first leagues in the world to adopt the controversial system.
There never was a daylight law. It’s a myth. And how do you see if there’s daylight unless the camera is perfectly in line? There’s nothing wrong with the offside law, just how it’s being used with VAR and the pretence that the technology is accurate. https://t.co/nsyKUSLC4z
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 19, 2020
A-League boss Greg O’Rourke has presented a bank of evidence to show how it could work in practical terms, partly based on its use in other codes here.
The decision to contemplate the broadcast of VAR audio marks a seismic shift for lawmakers, who have become increasingly convinced that one of the major issues with the video review system is its communication to fans watching live and on TV.
“We are considering it because we feel it’s important to involve everyone in seeing what’s happening,” Brud said. “There still can be confusion over why a decision is taken, and in the fourth year of VAR we are not completely ignorant of what happens in other sports.
“We have agreed we will discuss if football is ready for something very radical, and open live access to referees’ decision-making – either patching the audio into the broadcast, or having the referee come onto a microphone to explain a decision straight after.
“We ask the question, how can we help national associations (to improve the VAR’s usage)? In Australia, for instance, because of its use in other sports, people are used to it, it’s part of the culture.”
Brud said there remain technological questions to answer. “Operationally, what is needed?” he said. “Is the signal strong enough for broadcast? It’s a very complex topic.”
However there has been hugely positive global reaction to a handful of clips broadcast by Fox Sports retrospectively to illustrate how decisions are made, such as the intercession of the VAR to have Rhyan Grant’s yellow card against Melbourne City upgraded to red.
Brud also revealed that some 100 associations around the world – almost half of the FIFA membership – are now using VAR or planning its implementation.