What Does FIFA Approval Actually Involve?
Installing a VAR system is only one part of the journey.
Before Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology can be used in an official competition, organizers must comply with the IFAB VAR Protocol and complete FIFA’s Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP). This includes building an implementation project, selecting certified technology, training match officials, conducting operational tests and obtaining FIFA’s written approval.
According to the IFAB VAR Protocol, no competition may use VAR unless it has met FIFA’s implementation requirements and received written approval from FIFA.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the entire process and explain what competition organizers need to know before launching a VAR project.
Implementing VAR Is About More Than Technology
When people think about VAR, they often picture cameras, replay screens and referees communicating through headsets.
In reality, implementing VAR is far more complex.
Introducing video assistance into an official competition is not simply a matter of purchasing equipment or installing software. It is a structured project involving governance, operations, referee education, broadcast production and technology—all working together under a common framework.
That framework is defined jointly by The International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA. Although these two organizations work closely together, they have very different responsibilities throughout the implementation process.
IFAB vs FIFA: Who Does What?
One of the most common misconceptions is believing that FIFA writes the rules governing VAR.
In fact, the IFAB is responsible for the Laws of the Game, including the official VAR Protocol. It defines when VAR may intervene, which incidents are reviewable and how the review process must be conducted during a match.
FIFA, on the other hand, is responsible for helping competitions implement those laws in practice. Through the Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP), FIFA ensures that competitions introducing VAR do so according to consistent operational, technical and educational standards.
In simple terms:
| IFAB | FIFA |
| Defines the Laws of the Game | Oversees VAR implementation |
| Publishes the official VAR Protocol | Manages the IAAP |
| Specifies how VAR operates during matches | Grants written approval for competitions |
| Defines reviewable incidents | Monitors implementation quality |
What Is FIFA’s IAAP?
Once a competition decides to introduce VAR, the next step is entering FIFA’s Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP).
The IAAP is much more than an approval procedure. It is a structured implementation framework designed to help competitions introduce VAR safely, consistently and in accordance with international standards.
Rather than focusing solely on technology, the programme evaluates whether an entire competition is operationally ready to use video assistance.
That means assessing questions such as:
- Is the technology compliant with FIFA requirements?
- Have referees completed the required training?
- Are stadiums technically prepared?
- Have operational procedures been tested?
- Can the competition deliver VAR consistently throughout the season?
Only after these elements have been successfully completed can FIFA authorize the use of VAR in official matches.
The Five Stages of FIFA’s Approval Process
Although every competition has its own operational realities, FIFA structures the implementation process around five major phases.
Step 1: Building the Right Project Team
One of the biggest misconceptions is believing that a VAR project starts by choosing a technology provider. In reality, FIFA recommends beginning somewhere else:
with people.
Every implementation requires a dedicated project structure capable of coordinating technical, sporting and operational aspects of the rollout.
Typically, this includes:
- a VAR Project Leader;
- referee leadership and instructors;
- broadcast and technology specialists;
- operational and competition managers;
- stadium and infrastructure representatives;
- communication and administrative support.
Each stakeholder plays a different role throughout the implementation process.
The Project Leader acts as the main point of contact with FIFA, coordinates the overall project and ensures that every requirement is completed on schedule.
At the same time, referee instructors oversee one of the most critical aspects of the entire implementation: preparing match officials to use VAR consistently and confidently.
This illustrates an important reality: successful VAR implementation depends just as much on project management as it does on technology.
Step 2: Planning Before Purchasing
Another common mistake is assuming that selecting a VAR supplier should be the first decision. In practice, the opposite approach is usually more effective.
Before evaluating technology, competitions should first answer several strategic questions:
- Which competition(s) will use VAR?
- Which stadiums are involved?
- What level of broadcast production is available?
- What operational model best fits the competition?
- What financial and human resources are available?
Only after answering these questions does it become possible to identify the most appropriate technical solution.
This planning phase also helps avoid costly adjustments later in the project and ensures that technology decisions support the competition’s long-term objectives rather than short-term constraints.
As FIFA’s implementation framework demonstrates, introducing VAR is ultimately about building an operational ecosystem—not simply installing equipment.
Step 3: Choosing Technology That Meets FIFA Requirements
Once a competition has established its implementation strategy, organizers must select a technology provider capable of meeting the standards defined under the FIFA Quality Programme for VAR Technology.
This is an important distinction.
FIFA does not simply assess whether a replay system works. The selected technology must comply with technical requirements designed to ensure reliability and operational performance during official matches.
For competition organizers, choosing a technology partner therefore goes beyond comparing features or hardware specifications.
The Dartfish VAR System is FIFA Basic certified, confirming that it has successfully completed the relevant FIFA testing requirements. However, technology certification remains only one part of the wider VAR implementation and approval process.
Step 4: Preparing Match Officials
Even the most advanced technology cannot improve decision-making if officials have not been properly trained. For this reason, referee education represents one of the longest and most important phases of the IAAP.
Before a competition can introduce VAR, referees, Video Assistant Referees (VARs), Assistant Video Assistant Referees (AVARs) and replay operators must all demonstrate that they can apply the IFAB Protocol consistently in real match situations.
Officials progressively move through several stages, including:
- understanding the VAR Protocol;
- simulator-based exercises;
- reviewing recorded match situations;
- live practice sessions;
- full-match simulations under realistic operating conditions.
The objective is not simply to learn how the technology works.
It is to ensure that every member of the VAR team communicates effectively, applies the protocol consistently and reaches decisions under the same time pressure experienced during competitive matches.
Step 5: Testing Before Going Live
Before FIFA grants approval, every operational component must be tested under real match conditions. This includes much more than switching cameras on.
Competitions must demonstrate that the entire operational workflow functions reliably, including:
- video acquisition;
- communication systems;
- replay operations;
- referee review areas (RRA);
- contingency procedures;
- stadium infrastructure;
- broadcast integration.
Each stadium intended to host VAR matches must also be validated.
Even if another competition has previously used VAR at the same venue, organizers remain responsible for ensuring that their own installation satisfies FIFA’s operational requirements.
Only after these assessments have been successfully completed can FIFA authorize the competition to use VAR in official matches.
Planning a VAR Implementation Project?
Every competition has its own operational realities, technical constraints and sporting objectives.
If your federation or competition is exploring the introduction of VAR, our team can help you better understand the implementation process, evaluate the most appropriate solution and support you throughout each stage of your project.
→ Contact the Dartfish VAR team
Frequently Asked Questions About FIFA VAR Approval
FIFA’s Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP) is the framework used to support and approve the implementation of VAR in competitions. It covers areas such as project planning, technology, referee training, operational testing and final approval.
Yes. A competition may only use VAR once it has fulfilled the relevant implementation requirements and received written permission from FIFA.
No. Technology certification is only one part of the process. Competition organizers must also complete the wider implementation requirements, including referee training, operational preparation and testing.
Yes. The Dartfish VAR System is certified at FIFA Basic level under the FIFA Quality Programme for VAR Technology. This confirms that the technology has successfully completed the relevant FIFA testing requirements.
Yes. Dartfish can support competition organizers throughout the implementation project by helping them deploy the VAR solution, prepare the operational setup and integrate the technology into their matchday workflow.
Technology certification confirms that a VAR solution meets the relevant technical standards. Implementation approval concerns the competition itself and verifies that the complete VAR project is ready for official use.
Yes. VAR is not limited to top-tier competitions. Depending on the competition’s infrastructure, resources and production setup, lighter configurations such as VAR Light can make video review more accessible.
