Kateryna Monzul: "Some people think that a referee comes on the field and decides everything right away, without training"

Kateryna Monzul, Head of the UAF Referees Committee, shared the details of the preparation of Ukrainian referees for the VAR system.

The VAR system is actively used in modern football. In particular, this technology is also used in Ukrainian championship matches. Kateryna Monzul, Head of the UAF Referees Committee, explained how specialists are trained to work with this system.

"Some people believe that a referee comes, goes on the field, and decides everything right away, without training. This is not the case. Right now, we are training to work with the VAR system. It consists of several stages.

The first stage is studying the VAR handbook. The second is theoretical training. At this stage, game situations are analyzed in classrooms, instructions are given, advice is given on how to act to field referees and VAR referees in certain game episodes.

At the next stage, they are trained to work with a mobile television station. The VAR referees familiarize themselves with the buttons there, how to act, what to press during the match in game situations.

The next stage is also related to training, and more to game situations on the football field. The referee makes decisions that he would make during the match.

Another stage is offline work. During real matches, referees will watch how experienced VAR referees work.

You need to go through all these stages of preparation. It involves field referees, VAR referees who are in the PTS machine, and operators. All these stages must be passed in order to make the right decisions on the field," Monzul said.