There is still no VAR in the Challenger Pro League. However, this could make a difference.
The cry to introduce VAR in the Challenger Pro League is getting louder from supporters week after week. But according to Gazet van Antwerpen, it is the clubs themselves that are preventing the arrival of the Video Assistant Referee.
Goalkeeper Davor Matijas from Beerschot who received a red card at Club NXT, a valid goal by KRC Genk that was disallowed against Lierse K. Wrong decisions that would almost certainly have been corrected with a VAR. These are just two examples of mistakes in the Challenger Pro League.
In Italy, Germany, Portugal and Turkey there is VAR in the second division, but not in Belgium, England, France, the Netherlands and Scotland. According to the Pro League and the Professional Referee Department, VAR costs 5,000 euros per match and another 500 euros for the offside line. On an annual basis, this amounts to a cost of 1.32 million euros.
Too expensive for the clubs, even if it is not a huge amount. They currently believe that the investment of 82,500 euros each has no added value for the competition and so the blame lies with the clubs themselves, according to Gazet van Antwerpen.
