VAR to be implemented in AFC club competitions for 2024/25 season

Kuala Lumpur: As Asian club football prepares to enter a new era, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has reaffirmed its determination to maintain the highest officiating standards with the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system across its revamped three-tier club structure as well as the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League for the 2024-25 season.

Befitting the status of the newly introduced AFC Champions League Elite, which will see the Continent’s top 24 teams battle for glory, the tournament will implement VAR from the League Stage, which kicks off this September.

The inaugural edition of the landmark AFC Women’s Champions League, which kicks off in October, will see the VAR system made available in the semifinals and final, underscoring the Confederation’s commitment to supporting and developing women’s football on the Continent.

Meanwhile, VAR support for match officials in the AFC Champions League Two will be available from the Knockout Stage onwards.

The competition, comprising 32 teams, is set to commence in September.