Plan to introduce VAR to Hong Kong football for FA Cup final in doubt, as referees’ chief says they need more time
- Chairman of Hong Kong Football Association’s referees’ committee says they need more time than expected to buy new system
- Local officials want to use it for FA Cup final, but are in a race against time to have it installed by kick-off
Hong Kong Football Association is in a race against time to set up VAR for the FA Cup final in May, but the head of the city’s referees said they were on track to have it installed for the start of next season.
Albert Chiu, chairman of the association’s referee committee, said it took them more time than expected to buy the new technology.
Chiu, who discussed the move with Fifa officials at the World Cup in Qatar last year, said the “strict tendering process” had delayed the acquisition of the video assistant referee.
“Two months ago I was quite confident that we could try it out in May, possibly for the FA Cup final, but now it looks like a bit difficult as there are only three months left after we complete the procurement exercise,” he said. “The chance is now 50-50.
“Of course we will still try our best to launch the system as planned, because everyone is looking forward to the new technology for local games. But even if we cannot make it in time for May, we are quite confident that it will happen when we start the new season in the summer.”
The association has set aside a budget around HK$12 million for the system, with most of funding coming from Fifa and the government, which has set out strict guidelines on how to use taxpayer funds.