AFC Asian Cup to have VAR system from quarter-finals

Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the governing body of association football in Asia and Australia, announced on Thursday that the upcoming Asian Cup would see the VAR system being implemented from the knockout stages, which will cover seven matches and at four venues.

The technology, which has been brought to help referees review key decisions like the awarding of goals, penalties and red cards during matches, had created a huge furore at the 2018 World Cup in Russia after it led to numerous controversial decisions raising many questions concerning its progressive prowess in football. However, with the likes of La Liga, the Bundesliga and Serie A already sticking to it, AFC has also decided to give it a go.

“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,” Windsor John, the AFC general-secretary said in a statement, reported AFP.

The 2019 Asian Cup, which has been scheduled to take place from January 5 to February 1, would have 51 matches across in eight stadiums located across host cities - Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. It would be much bigger this time having a record 24 teams participating from all over Asia. In the previous four editions, only 16 teams had participated.