VAR Technology in Indonesian Football: Analysis of Referee Objectivity and Effectiveness in Liga 1 2024

Abstract

This research was conducted in response to the increasing utilization of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in modern football, which aims to assist referees in reducing errors in match situations with significant impact. The focus of this research is to analyze the level of VAR objectivity, the forms of VAR intervention contribution to Key Match Incidents (KMI), and the influence of VAR review duration on match dynamics in the Liga 1 competition for the 2024-2025 season. This research employs a descriptive quantitative approach with a notational analysis design. All KMI incidents that occurred during the competition season were used as research subjects. Data were obtained from official PSSI documentation and then analyzed based on incident classification, intervention frequency, and review duration. The research findings reveal that VAR has a significant contribution to improving referee decision accuracy. Of the total incidents analyzed, the majority of final decisions after review were declared in accordance with the Laws of the Game, with an accuracy rate reaching 88-90%. VAR interventions occurred most frequently in goal incidents, penalties, and red cards, with a significant proportion of decision corrections. The average review duration showed 1-2 minutes for checking and 3-5 minutes for on-field review, which remained within tolerance limits and did not substantially impede the flow of play. This research concludes that the implementation of VAR in Liga 1 2024-2025 was effective and provided tangible benefits for improving objectivity and the quality of referee decisions.