Three New Zealand referees have completed a two-day course to learn how the video assistant referee (VAR) system works.
Isaac Trevis, Anna-Marie Keighley and Campbell Kirk Kawana Waugh were among 14 officials from the Oceania Football Confederation who undertook the course in Sydney, run by officials from the Football Federation of Australia.
OFC is the only confederation yet to adopt VAR for international competitions, while the technology has been used increasingly worldwide over the past five years.
OFC Head of Refereeing Kevin Stoltenkamp said the course was “a step in the right direction”, with the announcement that an OFC professional league is planned to launch in 2025.
Main photo: Referee Anna-Marie Keighley … VAR course was ‘invaluable’.Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Anna-Marie Keighley told OFC Media:
“There were three stations in operation all day going through clip after clip from previous matches.
“With seven referees and seven assistant referees (in attendance) you were in the hot seat pretty frequently.
“We then focused on offside and using crosshairs technology, then participated in full match simulations.
“Being able to have practical training in the Football Australia VAR Centre, with three FFA instructors, was invaluable.
“It was a great first step for OFC video match officials, which was made possible by the relationship between Kevin Stoltenkamp and the FFA Refereeing Department. This relationship has led to an opportunity that the match officials are all grateful for.”
READ MORE: Plans revealed for professional club league to launch in Oceania in 2025 >>>>
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