Chinese Football Association mulling VAR and professional referee system

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is planning to introduce professional referees, and a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

Reviewing play during the FIFA Confederations Cup. [Photo: thepaper.cn]

According to a notice on its official website, the CFA has submitted plans to the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

"At the moment, a lot of training is underway, and the VAR system will be trialed in the Chinese Super League as soon as possible," said a CFA employee.

The video assistant referee system has proved to be effective, according to a report in the British Guardian newspaper.

In Bayern Munich's recent 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen, which kicked off the Bundesliga season, the defending champions were awarded a penalty by the league's new VAR system.

The Chinese Football Association is also hoping to learn from the experience of the UK and Germany, and launch a professional referee system in 2018.

Playback of a FIFA Confederations Cup match. [Photo: VCG]

"The professional standards are more demanding and stricter for referees, standardizing their profession, and bringing Chinese football more into line with international football," according to the notice on the CFA website.

The football association said that it is in discussions on policy and system design in relation to a professional referee system.