Jakarta. Indonesia's top-flight football competition Liga 1 will incorporate Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology as it enters the championship series from May 4th to 26th.

Erick Thohir, Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), highlighted the positive impact of VAR on the country's football industry. "With the use of VAR, the quality of our league and football industry will improve. Players will also perform better, knowing everything is well-monitored," said Erick following PSSI's third-phase VAR implementation trial at JSI Field in Megamendung, Bogor, on Saturday.

During the trial phase, eight cameras were installed at various points on the field during matches involving local football school (SSB) clubs. In this trial, referees and assistant referees also simulated the replay operator's decisions, which are used as considerations in critical decisions.

This includes determining whether a goal is valid or not, checking for penalties, and potential yellow or red card offenses, and identifying mistakes made by the main referee or linesman.

During the trial, Liga 1 organizing company Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) CEO Ferry Paulus said all the equipment used in the trial was identical to what was used in the U-17 World Cup 2023 held in Indonesia late last year.

PSSI Vice Chairman Ratu Tisha revealed that VAR will be implemented as Liga 1 enters the championship series from May 4th to 26th.

Tisha explained that the VAR implementation still has to go through several stages, including approval and final evaluation by FIFA for the VAR referees and assistant referees.

"FIFA is expected to be here between March 1 and 8 to assess the readiness in this batch 1 of referees," said Tisha.

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