Speaking at the course opening ceremony this morning, VPF General Director Nguyen Minh Ngoc emphasized that VAR technology has now been applied in Vietnamese football for three consecutive seasons.

Its positive impact on the league has been well established, and the fourth training course aims to further strengthen the VAR referee team to meet quality standards and help achieve key goals for the league.

Following two rounds of intensive training, including theory sessions and LAB (laboratory) simulations, 19 professional and semi-professional referees and assistants are now undergoing the final practical phase.

This stage involves on-field exercises simulating increasingly complex match situations, starting with short 10- and 30-minute segments and culminating in full 90-minute matches.

The training is supervised by the VFF Referee Committee, while FIFA instructors monitor each session remotely through daily video footage.

They assess each trainee’s progress, score their performance, and ultimately decide whether they qualify for VAR certification.

According to VFF, after three completed VAR training courses, Vietnam currently has 36 certified VAR referees and assistants.

Several skilled semi-professional referees have already been appointed as Assistant VAR (AVAR) officials for matches in the 2024-25 V-League and First Division seasons.