JOHOR BARU, April 11 — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will test the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during the Malaysia Cup semifinals and final this year.
FAM secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said the VAR would be used to see how the new technology can help in matches effectively before using the technology in the M-League next season.
“I have discussed with the FAM Referees Committee chairman Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh and the Referees Committee about the possibility of quickly using the VAR during the Malaysia Cup.
“The overall cost of implementing the system next season is expected to reach about RM10 million,” he told reporters during a briefing about VAR and refereeing, here today.
Meanwhile, Subkhiddin said the VAR was vital to improve the quality of refereeing, thus reducing controversy related to matches.
“I am not saying our referees are not good but just that we need a system that can enhance the quality of refereeing and to boost the confidence of players, fans and supporters,” he said.
He said the technology was developed by Hawk-Eye, a company based in London.
Subkhiddin said a number of countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Australia and Qatar have already adopted the system while Malaysia would become the first country in South East Asia to use the system.
“The system will take about 15 seconds to analyse the result of a dispute and teams or match officials would not be allowed to contest the outcome,” he said. — Bernama
