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VAR technology to be used for the first time in the last 3 matches of SAFF

Published : Saturday, 14 November, 2026 at 5:01 PM

Observer Online Report

For the first time in the history of the ongoing SAFF Championship organized by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is being integrated. This technology will be utilized to assist with crucial decisions in the tournament's two semi-finals and the final.

Although the matches are taking place at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the VAR operations will be managed from a central control room in Thailand. Conducted via a remote VAR system, trained and FIFA-certified video match officials will assist the on-field referees.

According to the SAFF Championship schedule, the two semi-finals will be held today, Saturday. In the first match, India and Bhutan will face off at 3:00 PM. In the second semi-final at 8:30 PM, hosts Bangladesh will face Pakistan. The tournament's final will take place on November 17. VAR technology will be used for the first time in these last three matches of SAFF.

SAFF confirmed the implementation of this technology for the first time through a press release. The South Asian Football Confederation (SAFF) is collaborating with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) to execute this initiative. Quality, a Spain-based FIFA-certified institution responsible for technical operations, has its central operations for providing VAR services managed from Thailand.

Under the remote VAR system, live video feeds captured by cameras at Dhaka's National Stadium during the matches will be sent to the central VAR operations hub in Thailand. Trained video match officials will be stationed there. If there is a suspicion of a serious error in an on-field referee's decision or if a reviewable incident occurs according to the rules, they will examine the video footage. Their observations and recommendations will then be directly communicated to the match officials present in Dhaka. The on-field referee can reconsider their decision based on the requirement.

The entire process will be conducted in accordance with the VAR protocol stipulated by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that determines the laws of international football. Because of this arrangement, there is no need to set up a full-fledged video operation center at Dhaka's National Stadium to use the technology. Review work will be completed by transmitting video images captured directly on the field to a remote control room.

To ensure the smooth operation of the technology at the National Stadium, a Referee Review Area (RRA) and a Technical Operations Team Area Monitor (TOTAM) have been set up. Quality’s experts are working at the stadium to keep the video transmission, communication system, and necessary technical infrastructure operational. Furthermore, all referees and assistant referees nominated for the semi-finals and final have been trained on the rules and processes of using VAR, and SAFF has stated that they possess the necessary certifications.

Addressing the question of why the responsibility of operating VAR is in Thailand's hands even though the matches are being played in Dhaka, SAFF General Secretary Purushottam Kattel stated that there is no obligation for the VAR control center to be in the host country of the match. Such arrangements are also active in Southeast Asian football. Under the ASEAN Football Federation, VAR operations for matches in various countries, from Indonesia to Myanmar, are managed from a central control room in Thailand. Even though the distance from Indonesia to Thailand is greater than that from Bangladesh, geographical distance does not create a problem in this case.

According to Purushottam Kattel, there is an opportunity to build a similar central VAR system in Bangladesh in the future. Once a VAR center is established in Dhaka, it would be possible to manage matches in other countries from there. As an example, he said that even if a match takes place in Karachi, it could be controlled from the Dhaka VAR center. In other words, it is not essential for the match venue and the VAR operations center to be in the same country.

The SAFF General Secretary referred to this initiative as a milestone for South Asian football. In his view, VAR is now an inseparable part of modern football. Along with increasing accuracy in crucial decisions, this technology will play a role in maintaining fairness, transparency, and the integrity of the sport. He also considers it an important step in improving the professional standards of the competition.

Meanwhile, recent dissatisfaction regarding refereeing has also come into discussion behind the introduction of VAR in SAFF. Following a 2-2 draw against Bhutan, Sri Lanka's coach Abdullah Al Mutairi expressed dissatisfaction with the refereeing. According to him, the result could have been different if VAR technology had been available in that match. Following the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match, SAFF announced that this technology is being incorporated into the final stages of the tournament to align with the refereeing standards of modern international football.

-MT