VAR to be implemented at all AFC club competitions for 2024/25 season

As Asian club football prepares to enter a new era, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has reaffirmed its determination to maintain the highest officiating standards with the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system across its revamped three-tier club structure as well as the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ for the 2024/25 season.

Befitting the status of the newly introduced AFC Champions League Elite™, which will see the Continent’s top 24 teams battle for glory, the tournament will implement VAR from the League Stage, which kicks off this September.

The inaugural edition of the landmark AFC Women’s Champions League™, which kicks off in October, will see the VAR system made available in the Semi-finals and Final, underscoring the Confederation’s commitment to supporting and developing women’s football on the Continent.

Meanwhile, VAR support for match officials in the AFC Champions League Two™ will be available from the Knockout Stage onwards. The competition, comprising 32 teams, is set to commence in September.

For the AFC Challenge League™, which will feature 20 teams, the technology will come into play in the all-important Final in May 2025.

As part of efforts to keep the Confederation’s match officials up to date and well acquainted with the latest technological advancements in refereeing, the Confederation conducted the AFC Video Assistant Referees (VAR) Course in 2023.

Moreover, an AFC VAR Information Officer (VIO) Workshop is also slated to take place in the upcoming months to ensure the VIOs from the various AFC Member Associations are kept abreast of the latest developments in VAR technology.

Earlier this year, the AFC implemented the VAR system across all matches at the AFC Asian Cup™ for the first time, while also becoming the first Confederation to introduce the Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) system at the Continental Men’s national team level, further emphasising its ambitions to remain a model Confederation and ensuring the success of its match officials on the biggest stages in world football.

AFC reinforces commitment to upholding highest governance standards

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s efforts in safeguarding the principles of good governance were further strengthened at the AFC Legal Workshop, which concluded on Tuesday at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

An informative and stimulating two-day event for the AFC Legal Committee members and the members of the Confederation’s judicial bodies, the workshop featured distinguished speakers from FIFA and UEFA, as well as leading private practice lawyers and members of the AFC Legal Department.

Tailored for those elected to the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, the AFC Entry Control Body and the AFC Appeal Committee, as well as those appointed to the AFC Legal Committee, the workshop provided the participants with expert insights and in-depth knowledge of the sport’s legal best practices as well as an understanding of key case law.

On the opening day of the workshop, some of the primary topics of discussion included disciplinary matters, anti-doping and club licensing, as well as Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) processes, aided by case studies pertaining to each subject.

Meanwhile, the second day commenced with a focus on matters pertaining to commercial law, intellectual property, rights protection and event-related legal issues, which was followed by an informative session on good governance in sport.

In his opening remarks, the AFC General Counsel and Director of Legal Affairs, Mr. Andrew Mercer, commented: “The combined legal experience of all members and the secretariat is an extremely valuable resource for the AFC as it strives to deliver on its vision to be the world’s leading Confederation and its mission to ensure good governance and the highest ethical standards in Asian football.”

He further emphasised the importance of maintaining a sense of community and knowledge sharing amongst the participants and highlighted the importance of continuing professional development during their term of appointment.

AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee Chairperson Mr. Jahangir Baglari said: “I have no doubt our committee members will continue to ensure that integrity and good governance, which are the AFC’s top priorities, are upheld at the highest standards.

“On our part, the AFC is committed to creating the best possible environment for our members, which will enable them to carry out their responsibilities to the best of their abilities.”

As part of the AFC’s bespoke programmes to ensure its members meet the continuously evolving demands that are key to enhancing the legal aspects of today’s game, the workshop reinforced the AFC’s Vision and Mission, of ensuring the highest standards of professionalism and positioning members of its judicial bodies as amongst the best in world football.

The full-day sessions featured presentations from world-class speakers on the disciplines that make up the comprehensive suite of legal services administered by the Confederation’s legal department.