VAR premieres in Croatia

The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) first annnounced that Croatian referees will begin with VAR education in the end of 2018. Now, after months of courses, the conditions have been met for VAR to be used at an official match.

HNS vice-president, Football Referees Committee president and VAR project manager Ante Kulušić announced in early September that VAR technology will be inaugurally used at a match between the U-19 teams of Rudeš and Hajduk, which was played on September 22 at Kranjčevićeva Stadium.

With this match, Croatia entered the final phase of VAR referee education, as per the guidelines set by FIFA and IFAB. Croatian referees started courses on VAR in January of 2019 and are projected to complete their education by the end of the first half-season, so that they may begin to apply VAR technology in the second half-season of the Croatian First Division.

The match between the U-19 teams of Rudeš and Hajduk was refereed by Ivan Bebek, as well as by assistant referees Ivica Modrić and Borut Križarić, and fourth official Fran Jović. Goran Gabrilo served as the video assistant referee, and he was assisted by Miro Grgić (AVAR).

Introduction of VAR into Croatian football was financed through the FIFA Forward Development Programme.

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