AFC makes VAR mandatory for top domestic leagues of member associations from 2027-28

VAR mandatory for ACL Elite participation.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has released a series of significant regulatory updates that could reshape the future of club football across the Asian continent.

At the centre of the new Entry Regulations, which will come into force from the 2027-28 footballing season, is the mandatory implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the top-tier domestic leagues of member associations participating in the AFC Champions League Elite.

A member association without VAR in their top-tier domestic league will not get a spot in ACL Elite regardless of the ranks.

VAR becomes non-negotiable

The introduction of VAR as a compulsory requirement signals the AFC’s intent to standardise officiating quality across Asia’s elite competitions.

For the Member Associations aspiring to maintain or secure slots in the top-tier of Asian club football ACL Elite, having VAR in place will no longer be optional but will be essential.

For the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs who are already not featuring in the ACL Elite, this means that it will be now more tough to get a spot in ACL Elite in the coming years if the league does not implement VAR as soon as possible.

Along with VAR implementation there are few more things that AFC has kept as a condition for the 2027-28 cycle.

What more?

The minimum requirements for domestic competition formats, as well as the minimum number of matches each club must play in domestic competitions for PMAs in the AFC Challenge League (ACGL), have been adjusted to reflect the current landscape.

For the AFC Club Licensing Regulations (Edition 2026), changes were made after extensive consultation and reviews with MAs via a Roadmap Project that began in June 2025; these will come into effect for the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two and ACGL from the 2027-28 sporting season onwards, and for the AFC Women’s Champions League from 2028-29 onwards.

Why does India not have a spot in ACL Elite?

India currently does not have a spot in the ACL Elite and are rather a part of ACL Two which is the second-tier club competition organized by AFC. The reason why India does not have a spot in the top tier competition is due to its club football rankings in Asia.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) allocates spots in the ACL Elite based on how leagues perform in tournaments over a cycle of seasons. The AFC allocates the ACL Elite spot to the top 6 ranked countries within Asia, and India being 10th in the ranking currently doesn’t get a spot due to this.

For now, Indian clubs will compete in the second tier that is the ACL Two, which still offers a great deal of exposure.

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