Asian Cup 2019: VAR a late arrival as cup enters quarters

There’s no skirting around the bizarre decision to introduce the video assistant referee as late as the Asian Cup quarter-finals.

A-League referee Chris Beath checks a VAR goal review. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

There’s no skirting around the bizarre decision to introduce the video assistant referee as late as the Asian Cup quarter-finals.

Still, if some of the calls thus far are a barometer, Australia will be thankful for the extra set of eyes — even from an often-maligned tool.

On-field refereeing controversies have already affected the outcomes of several games.

Host nation the United Arab Emirates have benefited from two late penalties — one a highly questionable extra-time spot-kick to secure a 3-2 round-of-16 win over Kyrgyzstan.

The Socceroos also had a penalty awarded against them when a Syria player tripped over one of his own teammates and went to ground, while there were also questions around potential handball incidents in both that game and the first against Jordan.

“The handball against Jordan, with VAR in Australia it would have been given,” said Socceroos coach Graham Arnold.

“There’s been a few but right across the Asian Cup.”

None other than A-League referee Chris Beath was the first to have access to the VAR for Vietnam’s quarter-final against Japan last night, after the system was tested throughout the round of 16.

Asian Football Confederation representatives visited the Socceroos on Wednesday to explain how it would work, though most players are familiar given the technology has been rolled out in most leagues worldwide since its use at the World Cup.

Milos Degenek hoped the VAR would fix howlers but found it equally inconsistent to be brought in midway through a tournament.

“It’s quite similar in the Champions League as well, in Europe it’s not in the group stage but from the knockout stages the VAR is in,” Degenek said.

“I dunno why they do that. Maybe they think these games as you get closer to the end of the tournament, they’re obviously important and you’re getting closer to the final.

“But I believe every game has equal importance or equal value. Not everyone thinks the same way and that’s their decision.”

Captain Mark Milligan said it wouldn’t change the way the Socceroos played, but also pointed out its late introduction was “a little bit strange”.

“When they spoke to us before the tournament they said the operators of the VAR were going to be the same ones that operated the World Cup.

“I think it will hopefully help us a lot. It’s always hard playing away from home, so it’ll be good to have someone overwatching everything.

“We just know there’s an extra set of eyes on the match.”

If Australia make it past the host nation early tomorrow morning to earn a berth in the semi-finals they’ll pocket a cool US$1 million ($1.41m).

Make the final and that triples to US$3m, and defending their trophy would earn Graham Arnold’s side another whopping US$5m.

In all 16 previous editions of the Asian Cup including Australia’s triumphant 2015 campaign, successful sides were not financially rewarded.