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VAR technology is set to be “a game-changer” for Bahrain football, says a top official.
The Bahrain Football Association (BFA) is implementing the use of the video assistant referee (VAR) system in all matches of the Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League starting its 2024-25 season, which kicks off tomorrow.
Extensive work has been going on over the past several months to get the set-up ready for the new campaign, including the installation of the required equipment as well as qualifying the kingdom’s referees with international certification.
Everything is now in place, and BFA referees committee chairman Ali Al Samahiji says VAR will have a tremendous impact and uplift the local game in more ways than one.
“Having VAR will raise the level of our league and of Bahrain football as a whole,” Samahiji told the GDN in an exclusive interview.
“It is a game-changer for Bahrain referees. In the past, there was no way to check on decisions made during a match. Now, with the support of VAR, we can review and see an incident again and check any major decision, such as a penalty kick or a booking.
“It will help make the referees’ job easier and improve the officiating in general, which will make our games better, for sure.”
Al Samahiji said that the BFA has been planning to implement VAR technology over the past two years, following the directives of His Majesty King Hamad’s humanitarian work and youth affairs representative and Supreme Council for Youth and Sport (SCYS) chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and of SCYS first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Those plans were then activated last year, and following a four-year deal signed by the BFA with Hawk-Eye Innovations – a leading company specialising in football officiating technologies like VAR – three of the kingdom’s major stadiums are now fully equipped with the systems. These include the National Stadium in Riffa, Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, and Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium at Muharraq Club in Arad.
The BFA had also worked with FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and football federations from neighbouring GCC nations to get Bahrain’s referees certified to use VAR.
The project is estimated to cost more than half a million Bahraini Dinars, according to the BFA, and 43 of the kingdom’s top referees are now VAR licenced.
“International lecturer Ali Al Tarifi is the best instructor in the world, and he did a great job preparing our referees,” Al Samahiji said. “We had intensive courses held over several stages, both outside and inside of Bahrain, and they were very valuable.
“Although the concept of VAR is not new to our referees, they are now very excited to be able to use the technology in our local matches. They have experience in football for many years, and are looking forward to making the most of the benefits of the system.”
Al Samahiji stressed on the importance of having VAR in the kingdom and in keeping with the highest standards of football across the globe.
“All top football associations in the world have it,” he explained. “Bahrain has to strive to be like them technically.
“We are a bit late in the implementation of VAR technology, but better late than never. It will also go a long way in helping achieve Bahrain’s goal of becoming a professional league in the future.”
Al Samahiji noted that, even with VAR being introduced in the national league, officiating mistakes will always be a part of the game.
“All referees make errors, in whatever sport,” he said. “There are leagues that have had VAR for years but there are still mistakes. They will always be there, and it is normal. But now we can work on making the mistakes much less.”
Al Samahiji thanked BFA president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, BFA vice-president Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa, and BFA secretary general Rashed Alzaabi for their unwavering support for Bahraini referees and for the development of the game in the kingdom. He also praised BFA official Abdulrahman Abdulqader for spearheading Bahrain’s VAR project, as well as all those involved in its implementation.
The use of the VAR system in Bahrain will be supervised by officials accredited by the AFC. Along with the Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League, matches in the His Majesty the King’s Cup will utilise VAR.
The BFA’s agreement with Hawk-Eye includes the provision of all operational requirements for the VAR systems, including display screens in VAR rooms, virtual offside line cameras, a programme for referees’ communication, and the like.
Hawk-Eye will be assisting in the running of the VAR system in Bahrain in its first year, while Bahraini officials will operate the system from the second season after acquiring the necessary skills to use the technology.
nader@gdnmedia.bh, patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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