Three VAR Instructors recently attended an intensive training seminar in Saudi Arabia, gaining crucial knowledge to support Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) ongoing implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
OFC VAR Project Manager, Mihaly Fabian, along with instructors Jamie Cross and Nick Waldron, visited Saudi Arabia from 4-12 February, learning from top VAR experts. The trip aimed to improve their understanding of VAR procedures and provide valuable insights to aid Oceania’s ongoing VAR adoption process.
The training began with two days in Riyadh, where the trio observed several matches of Saudi Leagues, studying real-time VAR implementation. They then travelled to Gassim, attending seminars for referee and VAR match officials from both the top division (Roshn Saudi League) and second division (Yelo Saudi League).
From 7-9 February, the team participated in the Yelo Saudi League seminar, engaging in debriefing sessions and match analysis discussions. Key topics included delaying the offside flags, penalty decisions, handball incidents, and overall VAR procedures. The Roshn League seminar was held directly after (10-12 February), offering an in-depth look at top-tier officiating practices.
Reflecting on the experience, Fabian expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and support from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). “We were fortunate to learn from some of the best VAR instructors in the world. We would like to make a special thank you to Manuel Navarro, Farkhad Abdullaev, Hakan Anaz and Ali Altraifi.”
“SAFF’s incredible hospitality and willingness to share knowledge made this an invaluable experience. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of a strong, long-term collaboration between OFC and SAFF,” added Fabian.
The training is a key part of OFC’s VAR adoption process, currently in step three of FIFA’s Implementation Assistant and Approval Programme (IAAP). As the confederation progresses through the training phase, international collaborations like this will be important in ensuring match officials across Oceania are equipped with the expertise needed to successfully integrate VAR.
OFC’s Head of Refereeing, Kevin Stoltenkamp, highlighted the importance of these training opportunities, “Providing our match officials with exposure to high-level VAR environments is crucial. This experience will accelerate their development and support OFC’s implementation of VAR across Oceania,” said Stoltenkamp.
Feature Photo Credit: OFC Media via SAFF