Special VAR Referee Training Course Launched in Vietnam

The 5th VAR referee training course was inaugurated by VFF with 25 trainees, focusing on improving the standards of the Vietnamese tech referee workforce.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) continues to promote VAR referee training by launching the 2026 training course – the 5th edition – on the morning of August 19. This is the first VAR course directly organized by VFF, with professional coordination from VPF and FIFA experts, marking a new development step for the technology referee team in Vietnam.

The course runs from August 18 to 27 at VFF headquarters, gathering 25 participants, including 23 Vietnamese and 2 from Laos and Malaysia. The presence of international trainees shows that Vietnam's VAR training program is gradually expanding and moving towards professional standardization according to the increasingly high demands of modern football.

VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu assessed that VAR has brought positive changes since its application in domestic tournaments. However, this technology still poses many challenges as referees have to handle complex situations in a short time. Unclear camera angles, difficult-to-determine play developments, or psychological pressure can all prolong the decision-making process.

VFF Head of Referee Board Dang Thanh Ha also pointed out two issues that Vietnamese VAR referees need to continue improving: technology and psychology. The VAR system is currently exploited only at a basic level, while some situations still lack necessary camera angles for accurate assessment. Besides, VAR referees must have enough courage to identify errors of the main referee, while on-field referees also need to avoid over-reliance on technology.

During the course, trainees will undergo theoretical lessons, familiarize themselves with operational procedures, and practice on the VAR system through simulated situations. After this phase, expected in September, they will continue to be tested in a real match. This is considered an important test to evaluate coordination ability, situation recognition, and pressure handling in a real competition environment.

Trainees who meet all requirements will have the opportunity to receive FIFA-recognized certificates, thus qualifying to participate in matches using VAR. VFF's continued organization of the 5th training course not only supplements human resources for the referee system but also aims to enhance accuracy, fairness, and the quality of management in Vietnamese professional football leagues.