LFF maintains the legionnaires' system "3+8" and continues to march in the direction of VAR
https://lff.lv/zinas/14247/virsligas-ce ... nemainigi/
In the 2023 and 2024 seasons in the Optibet Virsliga championship, the rules for the use of players will remain the same, the Board of the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) has decided, which has also approved the next steps in the implementation of the video referee assistant (VAR) system.
The current rules, which will therefore remain unchanged for the next two seasons, provide that every major league club has the right to apply for an unlimited number of players who are not players drafted by the federation, but at the same time at least three players who are players drafted by the federation must be on the field. Players prepared by the federation are considered to be those players who, between the ages of 12 and 21, have been registered with one of the LFF clubs for at least three full seasons.
"A timely review of these rules and the adoption of an appropriate decision is necessary for the predictability and long-term development of clubs and the tournament itself, so that all those involved have clear rules and an LFF perspective as soon as possible. The existing procedure for the use of local footballers and visiting players has proven itself well, which is evidenced by a number of factors from the point of view of championship intrigue in recent seasons to the performance of clubs in European tournaments and the results of the Latvian national team," says LFF President Vadims Lyashenko. "The Super League championship and its participants keep up with the times at different levels in their development, taking obvious developmental steps forward each subsequent season."
In connection with the further development of the Super League Championship, the planned implementation of the VAR system is also an important factor, which this year has begun real work on, carrying out the necessary research, planning and installation. According to the decision of the LFF board of directors, an application is submitted as part of the FIFA "Forward" program for the rental of a VAR simulator in order to start training judges to use the VAR system.
"Just lately, there have been a number of mistakes in refereeing decisions in major league games that we can avoid in the future with the introduction of the VAR system. The championship level has grown significantly in recent years, and our referees also need additional assistance in their growth, not only in the traditional form - seminars, training and exchange of experience - but also in the form of modern technological solutions. We see and conclude that the introduction of the VAR system is a topical issue that will help both referees and clubs to continue to grow in the future, as well as the tournament," emphasizes V. Lyashenko.
As reported, the introduction of VAR in the Virsliga and the Latvian Cup is initially planned as a four-year project in close cooperation with FIFA specialists, followed by a continuous process of maintenance and development of the system. With a favorable referee training process, infrastructure preparation and the introduction of technological solutions, the VAR system in the super league championship could start operating in the 2023 season.
The LFF Board has also agreed on the construction of an automatic watering system at the Staicele Training and Training Centre, as well as extended the accreditation by-law of the girls' football departments of LFF football clubs until the end of 2022. At the same time, amendments to the compensation rules for the preparation of players of youth clubs accredited by the LFF have been approved.
LFF President Vadim Lyashenko has also presented to the LFF Board the plans for the upcoming visit of UEFA President Aleksanders Čeferins to Latvia and his commitment to bid for the 2026 European Futsal Championship in Latvia.