JOVAN ŠURBATOVIĆ, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SERBIA | EVERYTHING IS READY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VAR

There is no more dilemma, Serbia will, from the start of the season 2021/22, definitely join the group of countries that have enriched their elite football competition with the video technology..

General Secretary of our organization, Jovan Šurbatović, spoke during the interview for the website of our Association about the process of the implementation of the VAR system (Video Assistant Referee) in the Serbian Super League:

“It seems to me that I read the information in the daily newspaper “Novosti” that the COVID-19 and the expansion of the league allegedly slowed down the introduction of VAR technology at the stadiums of the Serbian Super League. That is simply not true. I take this opportunity to remind you that in the second part of last season, a project team was formed, consisting of experts from TV Broadcaster Arena Sport, which is the media partner of the Football Association of Serbia, Telekom Serbia, Super League and the Football Association of Serbia, led by the president of the Referees’ Organization Milan Karadzic. Since October 2019, a large part of the work has been done and practically all of the necessary steps for the implementation of the VAR system from the 2021/22 season have been prepared”- said Šurbatović and added that by the end of the calendar year 2020, Telekom Serbia, TV Broadcaster Arena Sport and the Football Association of Serbia will be technologically ready to use the video technology:

“Telekom Serbia will provide the installation of optics at all Super League stadiums, as well as an adequate signal flow, i.e. a signal without delay. The TV Broadcaster Arena Sport informed us that it is in the phase of the technological improvement of the production capacities and the introduction of the most modern “Remote” production, which means that they will be able to follow every match with 12 cameras”

Šurbatović emphasizes that the Football Association of Serbia is currently in the phase of collecting offers for the purchase of the equipment and to equip the VAR Centre at the Football Association Sports Centre in Stara Pazova.

“The project is currently under preparation, and within the following three months, the Football Association of Serbia will get the most modern VAR Centre with four VAR rooms in the Sports Centre of the Football Association of Serbia in Stara Pazova. We opted for a centralized VAR technology management system from Stara Pazova, while the TV Broadcaster Arena Sport will install all of the necessary equipment at the super league stadiums. It is important to note that the test phase of the VAR System in Serbia is planned for the spring part of the next season, during which, certain Super League matches will be covered. ”

It is quite clear that the training process of referees for the implementation of the video technology will begin as soon as possible.

“Exactly. The continuous training of referees will start in September 2020 and it will last until September 2021. The Football Association of Serbia currently has six international referees with VAR Licenses, and after getting the equipment and equipping the VAR Centre in Stara Pazova in autumn 2020, we’ll sign a VAR Declaration with FIFA. – said General Secretary, Jovan Šurbatović.