Vieww achieves FIFA accreditation for video assistant referee alongside its goal line technology license

One of the four FIFA VAR rooms at the Parisian IBC for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Deltatre and Sportec Solutions have announced that its recently acquired officiating technology supplier, Vieww, is now a licenced FIFA provider for video assistant referee (VAR) technology, adding to its existing certification as a FIFA-licensed goal line technology (GLT) provider for global football leagues. The VAR certification has been in place since the start of the 2022/23 German Bundesliga season.

Vieww is only the second provider to offer both GLT and VAR technology certified by FIFA and offers a scalable solution to suit leagues and sports of any size and type.

For the start of the current 22/23 season, in association with DFB Schiri, the subsidiary of the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB), the German Football Association, that is responsible for the German leagues’ refereeing and officiating, Sportec Solutions successfully deployed VAR for the Bundesliga, the German Supercup, Bundesliga 2 and DFB Pokal, as well as GLT for the Bundesliga, the German Supercup and selected matches in the DFB Pokal.

The service deployed uses 14 intelligent cameras tracking at 200 frames per second in real time, in addition to a fleet of 12 vans and a newly created remote operations centre to deliver a best-in-class service. As part of both companies’ sustainability efforts, it is using several all-electric vans within the fleet to proactively reduce its environmental impact.

Alongside the full solution rolled out for the Bundesliga, Vieww’s VAR system is also scalable to suit smaller leagues with an all-in-one, compact VAR solution. This comprises a single lightweight box which allows for the use of up to eight synchronised camera feeds and the implementation of a virtual offside line. Currently deployed by Liga 3, the third tier of Portuguese men’s professional football, the quick and easy set up allows VAR operations at stadiums with reduced infrastructure and offers a cost effective solution for smaller leagues with no compromise on quality or accuracy.

Tom Janicot, managing director at Vieww, commented: “VAR and GLT technologies offer a significant enhancement for the leagues they are implemented in. It is fantastic to see Vieww technologies officially certified by FIFA and in weekly use across Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. We are excited to continue working with football leagues and other sports around the world to explore how this technology can further evolve, and continue to develop innovative technologies to further enhance our officiating technology capabilities.”