AIFF likely to introduce VAR in ISL 2025-26 season

AIFF informed the members of the next meeting to be held in May on this matter.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) convened its Technical Committee meeting on Sunday, March 10, 2024, followed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey was present and discussed several important issues with various dignitaries in attendance, including the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, who also serves as the president of the state football association.

At the meetings, AIFF Acting Secretary General M. Satyanarayan outlined the key agenda pieces, highlighting the presentation of a balanced budget for the financial year 2024-25. He stressed on the need for intensive efforts to develop the game, encouraging increased tournament involvement.

Central to the discussions was the state of Indian refereeing and the potential integration of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the top tier of Indian football. The AIFF Chief Refereeing Officer, Trevor Kettle delivered a report indicating that 85% of on-pitch refereeing decisions were accurate in the ongoing football season. Furthermore, consultations were conducted with five reputable VAR-specialized agencies as well as several stakeholders from FIFA.

The deliberations concluded in a proposal to introduce VAR in the Indian Super League (ISL) starting from the 2025-26 season. Members expressed keen interest in this initiative, particularly in its prospective implementation at no additional cost to the AIFF. It was agreed that further discussions on this matter would take place in the first week of May in another meeting.

The prospect of VAR entering the ISL is a significant advancement for Indian football, aiming to boost the accuracy and neutrality of refereeing decisions in the nation’s premier football league. With technological advancements, the integration of VAR has the potential to transform match officiating, nurturing unbiased games and moderating contentious situations.

There have been continued concerns from several ISL clubs on the issue of wrong decisions from referees. With the introduction of VAR, both club officials along with coaches and players will be the happiest. The fans will surely look forward to this technological advancement as it will introduce a new dimension in games.

The AIFF’s inclination to explore the introduction of VAR underlines its commitment to accepting modern technologies and elevating the standard of Indian football. As discussions progress, stakeholders eagerly anticipate developments regarding the forthcoming implementation of VAR in the ISL.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.