The Portuguese Football Federation's Referees Committee has received permission from FIFA and IFAB to broadcast conversations between the match referee and the VAR to fans live in the stadium.
According to reports in Portuguese newspapers Jornal de Noticias and Record, the Portuguese Referees Committee will initially broadcast conversations between the referee and the VAR regarding critical incidents in select matches in real-time. Subsequently, the number of matches where this practice is applied will be increased step-by-step under FIFA supervision.
Portugal will be one of the first countries to test this practice, which has been trialed and will be expanded in FIFA-organized tournaments such as the 2023 Women's World Cup.
It was stated that the practice will be officially announced next week by the Portuguese Football Federation and Portuguese Referees Committee President Jose Fontela Gomes at a meeting that will also be attended by officials from FIFA and IFAB.
THEY ARE PUBLISHING VAR CONVERSATIONS
Since September 2023, the Portuguese Football Federation has been sharing conversations between the VAR and referees from matches played in the Portuguese Premier League on a monthly TV program for football fans.
Portuguese Referees Committee President Jose Fontela Gomes had advocated for the disclosure of conversations between the referee and the VAR for 'educational purposes,' and the federation had succeeded in obtaining the necessary permission for this.
Referees had also supported this practice, believing it would help them be fully understood.
News Source: 12punto
