AFC Asian Cup 2019: VAR to be used from quarterfinal stages

The Asian Football Confederation, AFC, has confirmed that the AFC Asian Cup 2019 will make use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) from the knockout stages of the continental competition. The latest edition of the quadrennial AFC Asian Cup will be held in the UAE form 5th January to 1st February, 2019.

It said that the use of VAR was approved by the AFC Referees Committee from the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup onwards. The VAR will be used for seven matches at four venues Zayed Sports City and Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain and the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.

"Asia already boasts some of the world’s leading referees and now they will be given the additional support of VAR for the tournament quarter-finals, semi-finals and the February 1 final," said AFC in a statement.

"Working closely with FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) as well as the world’s leading suppliers of VAR technology, the system will be another first for the biggest and best-ever AFC Asian Cup, which features a record 24 teams from all corners of Asia," it added.

"We are grateful to FIFA, the IFAB and the Asian Cup Local Organising Committee for their outstanding support in making VAR a reality at the AFC Asian Cup," said AFC general secretary Dato’ Windsor John.

"The decision to include VAR was only made on September 26 and that has meant a tremendous amount of work has been required to ensure that it can play a role at the tournament from the quarter-final stages," he said.

The VAR was used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and will make its debut in various competitions across the world soon including the UEFA Champions League in 2019-20.

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