FIFA referees chief claims VAR needs time

CAIRO – 28 June 2017: Massimo Busacca, FIFA referees chief, spoke in a press conference on June 26 about the importance of the Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in improving the game.

Reporting from ESPN, Busacca claims the VAR can reduce referee errors. "We are certain that this can reduce refereeing errors. We are convinced if used correctly, it can reduce many mistakes. But not eliminate. We are here only to reduce.”

According to Goal, Busacca talked about how successful the VAR was in the Confederations Cup by saying, "In 12 games, we had 29 major incidents decided correctly by the officials and confirmed by VAR; seven decisions reviewed by VAR and six game-changing decisions corrected. Four of those were offside."

Busacca requested that many leagues try the VAR next season in order to improve its use. He also demanded more time in order to make sure that it is used correctly.

Citing Goal he said, "Every referee team in every country that is supplying officials to the World Cup need to be working with VAR every day. In five days we did the VAR training for this competition. To implement more, to be at the level we need, we need time."

It is with no doubt that the VAR is significant in making decisions for the referee. This could be seen in the last match between Cameroon and Germany when the VAR called upon giving the red card to Cameroon’s player Ernest Mabouka. The match, held on June 25, ended in a 3-1 victory for Germany.