Getting certified for VAR

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) may be closer towards implementation for the final stretch of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers, but Concacaf head of communications, Nicholas Noble, says the main barrier towards full approval will be getting the remaining five countries and their stadiums, including Jamaica, certified for use.

Plans are in motion for the system to be in place for the final six games of the final round starting next month.

At the start of the final round in September, Concacaf issued a statement regarding VAR’s initial non-use, claiming that five of the eight teams do not have the technology available in certified stadiums.

Mexico, Canada and the United States are currently the three countries that are certified for the use of the system, while Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama and Jamaica are the remaining five countries that are still not certified.

While not giving a specific timeline regarding the finalisation of the certification process, Noble said that process is ongoing and was hoping that all stadiums meet the required standards to operate the system.

“The certification (process) involves the Concacaf referee’s department applying the necessary FIFA standards needed to test the technology and then, therefore, having been able to use in real time in competition matches at the international level. That is taking place in all eight countries and we are doing the work behind the scenes to hopefully be in a position to implement that in January and March,” Noble told The Sunday Gleaner.

Jamaica Football Federation General Secretary Dalton Wint said that the administration does not foresee any problems with the National Stadium meeting the required standard to use VAR. While the regional football body’s requirements include having Internet service and a utility room to operate the system from, he said that Concacaf will assist in supplying the technology necessary.

“We have done our due diligence. I do think that we are on the right path and we are almost there. We certainly can afford to make the adjustments so I don’t see any issue getting that VAR system implemented at the stadium,” Wint said.

The Sunday Gleaner sent requests for comment from the football federations of Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama regarding their certification process for the system but did not get a response at press time. The Sunday Gleaner also understands that should one federation not meet the certification standards, then the system would not be used for the remainder of the campaign.

ADDED MOTIVATION

While cognisant of the implications, Wint said that it is an added motivation to do their part to get the system in place as he believes the country has suffered from its absence so far in the campaign

“What we want to do is to ensure that we uphold our part of the bargain by putting in what is required. We have been affected by the non-use of VAR. It is certain that VAR would have overturned that decision (against the USA),” Wint said.

That decision in question was Damion Lowe’s disallowed header that could have been the game winner in their November qualifier against the Americans, with the referee ruling that Lowe committed a foul in the act of scoring. Noble said that the plans to make VAR available were not a response to that decision.

“For Concacaf, in terms of our implementation of VAR, there has been a real process there, Nations League finals, Gold Cup and latter stages of our club competitions. This is the next phase of that. I don’t think you can tie it to specific individual incidents or decisions,” Noble said. “It’s just about developing the game and supporting the referees in a manner that’s fair for all eight teams with the final six games that each of them have.”

Should the system be approved, Jamaica would see its use for the first time in their home qualifier against Mexico on January 27.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com