AIFF's acting Secretary General M Satyanarayan hints introduction of VAR in Indian Football

VAR can be introduced to both I-League & ISL

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced a significant development that is set to reshape the landscape of Indian football – the federation might introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in domestic club competitions from the 2025-26 season. M Satyanarayan, AIFF’s acting Secretary General, highlighted that the potential game-changing advantage this would bring to both Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League teams.

VAR, initially employed in FIFA events during the 2016-17 season, plays a crucial role in supporting referees in four pivotal game-changing situations: goals and related offences, penalty decisions and offences leading to penalties, direct red card incidents, and cases of mistaken identity.

Satyanarayan acknowledged the global adoption of VAR in domestic club competitions, following its introduction in countries like Australia and the United States. However, he noted the complexity of the process, emphasising the need for FIFA’s approval and the time-consuming training of personnel.

While there is a strong desire to introduce VAR in the upcoming season, Satyanarayan acknowledged the challenges, stating in an interview to PTI, “Introducing it next season might be difficult for the simple reason that FIFA has to approve the technology, there is a process. More than just getting the equipment, training of personnel takes a lot of time.”

The timeline for implementation appears to be the 2025-26 season, with Satyanarayan explaining, “Even if we start now (the process), it will take a minimum of 18 to 20 months.”

Implementing VAR comes with its own set of challenges, primarily financial. Satyanarayan addressed this concern, stating, “We have to see where the money is going to come from. But ultimately, it’s the clubs of the ISL and I-League (which are going to benefit). The margins of victory or loss are sometimes 5 to 8%, so we can get better results (with the use of VAR).”

The VAR technology made its domestic debut in March during the Santosh Trophy third-place classification match between Services and Punjab in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This marks a significant step forward for Indian football, bringing the sport in line with international standards and providing a platform for fairer, more accurate decision-making on the field.

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