Vietnam to use VAR technology at top-tier football tournament

The video assistant referee (VAR) system will be trialled at Vietnam’s top-tier football competition, V.League 1, in 2023, as announced by the VPF, the company that runs professional football tournaments in Vietnam.
VPF holds a draw event to arrange the match schedule for the 2023 edition of V.League 1.
VPF holds a draw event to arrange the match schedule for the 2023 edition of V.League 1.

The VPF said it will procure equipment and provide training for referees such that the trial can be carried out in the second phase of the 2023 tournament.

The technology will then be put into official use at the 2024 season and is expected to enhance refereeing work, which has been a problem in many previous seasons.

The 2023 season is expected to take place from February to August, preceded by a Super Cup match between Hanoi and Hai Phong at Hang Day Stadium on January 29.

The 14 clubs will compete in a round-robin format in the first stage from February to May to select the best eight teams, which will then play against one another to determine the final winners.

The other six clubs will also compete with one another in the second stage to determine which club will be relegated to the lower division.

From the 2024 season, the tournament will start in the autumn and end in the summer of the following year, like the English Premier League.