The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be introduced in Indian men’s football for the first time in the final of the 76th edition of National football championship for the Santosh Trophy set to be played at the King Fahd International Stadium here on Saturday.
The host Saudi Arabia Football Federation, will be providing the technology during the decisive stage of the tournament.
This was conveyed by the All India Football Federation president, Kalyan Chaubey, ahead of the Santosh Trophy semifinals which is happening for the first time outside the country. The AIFF chief also indicated at involving the Indian software experts to find out a cost effective way to introduce VAR in Indian tournaments.
“We will soon see the technology introduced to our domestic tournaments like ISL. The VAR is a costly proposition but I am sure the technological brains of our country can be employed to find a cost effective solution for us,” Kalyan Chaubey said during an interaction.
The under-17 women’s World Cup last year was the first time any Indian team played under the video referral system.
PREVIEW
Eight-times champion Punjab and six-times winner Services lead the challenge in the two semifinals as the National men’s football championship for the Santosh Trophy finds a new locale at the King Fahd International Stadium here on Wednesday.
This is an effort from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to exploit its newly-forged strategic partnership with the Saudi Arabia Football Federation in retrieving the competition from its present condition of ailment.
Punjab, which last won the crown, beating Services in the final in Srinagar 15 years ago (2007-08), will have newcomer Meghalaya as its opposition in the first semifinal. Services, the champion of the 2018-19 season, will meet Karnataka in the other clash for the title round. Having won the crown last as Mysore 54 years ago, Karnataka will be eager to reclaim its lost stature as one of the hubs of Indian football.
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