VAR Technology Transition in Romanian Superligă: Centralized Hub Launch
The Romanian Superligă will see the removal of VAR machines from stadiums, transitioning to a centralized analysis hub located in Mogoșoaia. This crucial update comes as part of a significant upgrade to the video assistant referee (VAR) system, which includes new hardware, additional 4K cameras, and the innovative Accelerated Virtual Offside Line (AVOL) technology aimed at reducing the time needed to verify offside situations.
Following four years of VAR implementation in Romanian football, the Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal, in collaboration with the TV rights holder for the Superligă and the Federația Română de Fotbal, is set to enhance the video officiating experience. The new season, starting on July 17, will introduce state-of-the-art components and simplified software configurations.
Transition to a Centralized VAR Hub
One of the primary changes in the upcoming Superligă season is the elimination of the VAR machines at each stadium, which were previously in use. Instead, efforts have been underway for several months to establish a centralized VAR hub at the Football Center in Mogoșoaia.
Referees and their assistants will conduct video analysis from this central location rather than at the stadiums, allowing for a more streamlined process. Kyros Vassaras, the head of CCA in Romania, emphasized the need for a dedicated VAR center nearly a year ago, and this vision is nearing realization.
“We are working at a rapid pace to ensure the new video referee hub is operational for the first match of the upcoming season! This will be our new home. We aim to completely eliminate the VAR machines previously used at stadiums. The latest equipment has been in Bucharest for a month, and we are conducting tests to ensure everything is ready by mid-July,” representatives involved in the project shared.
Upgraded Equipment and Special Cameras for VAR
This initiative will enhance the quality and transparency of match management, aligning it with the technical standards of major European leagues. The FRF announced at the start of the year that Sportec Solutions AG, in collaboration with Bundesliga, will provide the VAR software, which is already used in top competitions in Spain and Portugal. This includes the AVOL feature, designed to expedite offside analysis.
Before the new Superligă season begins, stadiums will also undergo significant upgrades, including the installation of additional fixed 4K cameras that will assist VAR referees in making accurate decisions.
Implications of the New VAR System
These cameras will track player and ball positions in real-time, automatically calculating offside lines and relevant body positions. If a player is clearly offside, the system will alert referees almost instantaneously, reducing unnecessary game interruptions.
Even with the AVOL, the final decision will still rest with the on-field referee, as technology serves only as an assistive tool, not a replacement for human judgment.
Benefits of the Updated Video Assistant Referee System
- Automatic integration into the VAR system with an increased number of operable cameras during matches;
- New viewing angles available for the first time after four seasons of VAR use in Romania;
- Significantly improved image clarity compared to previous seasons;
- Comprehensive coverage of the playing field, regardless of the ball’s location;
- Faster offside position detection through automatic generation of necessary reference points;
- Better control of the penalty area and goal line.
Each club will bear the cost of €18,000 for the technology implementation. If successful, this system may be adopted in Liga 2 by the 2027-2028 season, with costs structured to be approximately €3,000 per season under a seven-year contract. In case of relegation from the Superligă, a team may sell the system to the new club that replaces them.
