David Gallop says referees should set high bar for VAR system

FFA boss David Gallop says referees will be told this week to set a high threshold for using the VAR system and avoid nitpicking.

FFA chief executive David Gallop in Sydney yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

FFA boss David Gallop said referees will be told this week to set a high threshold for using the VAR system and avoid nitpicking.

A number of video assistant referee controversies have overshadowed the first two rounds of the A-League season.

Gallop said it was frustrating but there are still teething issues with the system, which was introduced last season.

The Sydney derby last Saturday was the latest game in which a VAR controversy arose but Gallop said the technology has affected only one goal in the first two rounds.

The flow of the game is important, he said, and A-League head Greg O’Rourke will contact referees this week.

“We need to make sure that people realise that there are great benefits to VAR. We don’t want to see howlers determine results in games,” Gallop said. “We want to remind the referees this week that there should be a high threshold for intervention.

“They need to make correct decisions, of course, but we don’t want to see decisions that are drawn out and effectively nitpicking around a piece of play.

“That would be something that will earn the frowns of everyone across the game.”

Gallop saw some merit in VAR decisions being announced to crowds and television audiences.

“People want to know what’s happening. If people know what’s happening then they are going to be more inclined to understand the system,” Gallop said.

VAR hasn’t been used in the W-League this season.

“There are cost issues around the introduction of it but of course we’d like to see it across both leagues,” Gallop said.

Meanwhile, every state and territory has expressed interest in hosting a match if Australia’s bid for the 2023 women’s World Cup is successful.

The FFA announced the bid in June 2017 and yesterday launched an AusBid2023.com website for Australians to #GetOnside and submit registrations of support.

Gallop said he hoped the bid winner would be known around the time of the next World Cup in France in June-July 2019.

The bidding process had been delayed but he hoped it would start over the next few months.

Gallop said lessons had been learned from Australia’s unsuccessful bid for the men’s 2022 World Cup.

“This is a different scenario and one we think we are a really good chance of to be awarded the tournament and then do a fantastic job if we get it,” Gallop said. “At the moment we’re waiting for FIFA to tell us exactly what the process will be.”

AAP