VAR solutions for football
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is a multi-channel recording and instant replay system that helps football match officials make accurate decisions on controversial game moments.
The VAR system is operated by the VAR team, which consists of the match officials - VARs (Video Assistant Referees) and AVARs (Assistant Video Assistant Referees) - and the ROs (Replay Operators).
The VAR team monitors the game remotely on multiple screens and has real-time access to video footage of the game to assist the main referee on the field with instant replays of key moments from different camera angles.
According to the VAR protocol, the VAR team may only assist the main referee in the event of a “clear and obvious error" or a "serious missed incident" related to:
- Goal/no goal;
- Penalty/no penalty;
- Direct red card (not second yellow card);
- Mistaken identity.
As a pioneer of VAR technology, SLOMO.TV has been involved in the development of video assisted refereeing with IFAB and FIFA from the very beginning (videoReferee® at FIFA's video replay experiments workshop).
videoReferee® VAR systems from SLOMO.TV provide easy and cost-effective VAR implementation solutions for football.
| videoReferee®-8F |
|---|
| Control-VR control panel included |
| Up to 8 recording channels |
| VAR+AVAR+RO workplaces |
| Additional independent workplace (AVAR2 or RO2) |
| Integration with VOL |
| Integration with Referee Intercom |
| Support for SSM cameras |
| 2U, 12 kg |
| videoReferee®-ST |
|---|
| Control-VR control panel included |
| Up to 16 recording channels |
| VAR+AVAR+RO workplaces |
| Additional independent workplace (AVAR2 or RO2) |
| Integration with VOL |
| Integration with Referee Intercom |
| Support for SSM cameras |
| 4U, 19,5 kg |
| videoReferee®-FC |
|---|
| Control-VR control panel included |
| Up to 32 recording channels |
| VAR+AVAR+RO workplaces |
| 3 additional independent workplaces (AVARs + ROs) |
| Integration with VOL |
| Integration with Referee Intercom |
| Support for SSM cameras |
| 4U, 19,5 kg |
General advantages:
- SLOMO.TV provides support at every stage of the VAR implementation;
- videoReferee® VAR systems are FIFA certified and can be used at any level of football competition;
- videoReferee® is the most affordable system among certified VAR solutions;
- Wide range of VAR systems (from entry-level 8-camera systems to large-scale 32-camera VAR solutions) with different installation options (local usage, mobile system, VAR center);
- All videoReferee® systems include a permanent software license;
- Unique Academy technology for intensive training of VARs/AVARs/ROs.
Certified VAR technology videoReferee®
has been tested and certified under the global quality standard ”FIFA QUALITY PROGRAMME for VAR technology”.
Operational advantages:
- Very fast User Native Interface. Convenient search, easy camera selection, playback control and zoom. View of 1 - 4 cameras.
- Quick review and Loop playback. The video replay is ready for analysis within a few seconds.
- Camera synchronization. Server synchronizes out-of-sync cameras for accurate review.
- Control panel and referee buttons. Specialized RGB backlit referee buttons plus a dedicated Control-VR panel with 35 multi-function RGB backlit buttons and reliable Jog/Shuttle.
- Optional support for additional independent VAR/AVAR/RO workplaces.
- Reporting and archiving of exported video footage at the end of the match.
VAR features:
-
MIDO-RRA OPTION WITH VENUE INFORMATION GRAPHICS CAPABILITY
The system's RRA option duplicates on the RRA monitor the VAR interface with the review in progress. In the absence of a VAR interface, it displays a background picture. Additionally, it generates graphics with the referee’s decisions for the Venue Information Graphics systems. -
VIRTUAL OFFSIDE LINE
Seamless integration with 2D/3D Delta-offside (by Deltacast) VOL solutions:- 2D DELTA-OFFSIDE – Support for up to 3 cameras;
- 3D DELTA-OFFSIDE – Support for up to 10 cameras.
-
REFEREE INTERCOM
Integration with the most popular Referee Intercoms (e.g., Vokkero). Conversations between the VAR (or AVAR) and the head referee on the pitch are recorded on the server. -
GESTURE-BASED INTERFACE
Full-featured gesture-based interface for VAR monitor and Multiviewer that allows users to operate the system using simple, intuitive gestures.
Local & Mobile usage
The server and control workplaces are located in a dedicated VOR room or in a specialized vehicle (VAR Van) at the stadium.
The referee’s workplace has the Control-VR panel, 4 referee buttons and 4 monitors, displaying the Main camera, VAR interface, Multiviewer.
The VAR interface supports the following modes:
- Delayed main camera;
- 1-4 cameras multiscreen;
- Frame-by-frame search;
- Playback at a variable speed.
videoReferee® case studies
Kazakhstan Football Federation
The successful testing of the videoReferee® system in July 2021 led to FIFA's approval of the use of SLOMO.TV VAR technology in regular football competitions in Kazakhstan.
In total, the Kazakhstan Football Federation uses 14 VAR complexes: videoReferee®-8F servers and mini-II-vR-Cam cameras.
Georgian Football Federation
The Georgian Football Federation uses SLOMO.TV VAR technology: videoReferee®-based VAR Van. In March 2022, an intensive training session for future video match officials was held in Tbilisi with SLOMO.TV technicians and FIFA instructor. The training was carried out on the videoReferee® system and SLOMO.TV Academy simulator.
The Federation has received FIFA’s approval for the use of the VAR in official matches. In 2023, the GFF expanded their systems by 2 more SLOMO.TV VAR Vans.
Tajikistan Football Federation
The Tajikistan Football Federation has selected videoReferee® VAR technology as the option that met all their requirements and objectives. An intensive training for VMOs was conducted in Dushanbe using the Academy and videoReferee®-8F, which was then used to equip the VAR van.
The VAR implementation project was successfully completed in the fall of 2023 and the technology is now officially used in Tajikistan Higher League matches.
