How Estonia rolled out VAR across all first-division football matches in Baltic first

Founded in 1921, the Estonian Football Association (Eesti Jalgpalli Liit (EJL)) oversees the national football league, including the Meistriliiga championship, the Estonian Cup and the national team.

Recently, Estonia became the first country in the Baltic States to use full-time video-assisted refereeing (VAR) for all matches in its national first-division football league. Elaborating on the significance of this step, Aivar Pohlak, President of the EJL, explains: “If you look at it from a referee’s point of view, it’s very clear that today, you can’t envisage an international career if there is no video refereeing dimension in your (national) league.”

So what are the basic principles of VAR in football? Four pitch referees communicate via a specific audio communication system, such as the Vokkero Elite from sportech specialist Vogo. They are connected to a video assistant referee (VAR) in a dedicated video operating room (VOR), who along with the assistants (AVARs) and replay operators (ROs), have access to live video feeds from the match, generated by the TV cameras and production truck. The VAR provider integrates the video footage into its VAR solution and provides the VOR team with equipment and software to replay the action, and review it in slow motion, frame by frame, and through different angles, to recommend a decision to the main referee on the pitch.

The VAR can also share the relevant footage with the main referee through a pitch-side screen, the Referee Review Area (RRA).

How is VAR implemented in Estonian football?

To enable the introduction of VAR, a centre dedicated to VARs and AVARs has been established at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn. The Federation has chosen Vogo’s VAR solution to equip the 10 stadiums of the Championship and the centralised VAR PC. This combines the FIFA-certified VogoSport VAR Light video solution with the Vokkero Elite audio communication system.

Once the stadiums had been equipped, the EJL organised a four-month training programme for referees to train VARs, AVARs and on-field referees in VAR procedures. In Estonia, each referee can, depending on the match, be the main referee on the pitch, or the VAR, or the AVAR. As a result, each referee has a perfect understanding of all the roles, ensuring that all those involved in refereeing decisions work together smoothly and efficiently.

Video analysis: FIFA as a guarantee of quality

To improve the game and protect players, clubs and associations, quality labels were introduced by FIFA from 1996 through the FIFA Quality Program. The objective is to approve products that meet strict quality requirements and comply with the rules established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

In 2023, Vogo successfully obtained FIFA certification for the VAR and VAR Light VogoSport Elite video review solutions, as well as for the Virtual Offside Line (VOL) VogoSport Elite solution.

VAR or VAR Light, what’s the difference?

VAR is a complete refereeing solution used in major competitions and leagues, with a dedicated infrastructure (VOR with RO) and multiple viewing angles to support refereeing decisions.

VAR Light is a simplified and more cost-effective version, designed for lower-level leagues and competitions. It uses fewer cameras and personnel (no need for an RO) while offering sufficient capabilities to support decision-making.

Vogo has implemented a full VAR Light solution for the EJL (Vokkero Elite audio communication combined with VogoSport Elite video replay):

- For video review, VogoSport Elite offers simultaneous streams, zoom, replay, and slow motion, among other functions. Each stadium is linked by fibre optics to the VOR, while RRA zones enable referees on the pitch to view the VAR sequences so that they can make the necessary decisions.

- For audio, Vokkero Elite audio technology, with a patented noise filter, enables hands-free, plug-and-play operation.

“This solution provides us with invaluable assistance in our decision-making to ensure fair and equitable refereeing. It is adapted to our specific needs and allows us to be completely autonomous,” says Kristo Thover, FIFA Referee, VAR Project Manager.

Tailor-made solution

The Vogo Elite solution has been implemented on the basis of the Federation’s specific requirements, with a centralised VOR room for all clubs and matches. The two video referees, VAR and AVAR, assigned to each match, watch the matches from the VOR.

The room, equipped with three complete workstations, is located in the heart of the National Stadium in Tallinn. It allows video refereeing of three matches simultaneously during the championship.

Easy to use

Vogo trained the VARs and AVARs in close collaboration with the EJL. The intuitive, ergonomic solution means that VARs are completely autonomous when it comes to handling the videos. There is no operator replay in the VAR Light configuration; the VAR handles the VogoSport Elite video replay directly.

As for the field-side VAR, the system is installed in the TV truck and is fully ready for use at each stadium, with no need for a dedicated VAR technician.

Hannes Kaasik, Director of the Estonian Football Federation’s Refereeing Department, says: “The quality of Vogo’s technological solutions, which have already been deployed at some of the world’s biggest sporting events, and the commitment of Vogo’s teams to this project and their desire to make VAR technology accessible and simple, particularly in the VAR Light configuration, convinced us to sign this partnership.”

An affordable solution for tight budgets

The VAR Light solution requires fewer cameras, equipment and personnel. This makes it possible to offer a professional VAR solution that is less expensive and simpler, but still complies with the standards imposed by FIFA.

“Estonia uses the VAR Light Vogo Elite solution without an RO because we only have six cameras per match. We don’t use offside line technology at this stage,” adds Thover.

By combining its proprietary and patented audio and video solutions, Vogo acts as the sole VAR provider for the EJL and provides technical support for the entire chain.

VAR Light is a key innovation for video refereeing in football. Its lower cost, ease of use and simplicity of installation make it accessible to many federations, leagues and organisers, for fair and equitable refereeing decisions at all levels of competition.

To hear more about Vogo’s VAR solutions during IBC 2024, visit Hall 8, stand #8.F47.