Driftspace
Dhaka is hosting the South Asian Football Federation Championship this month, an
Dhaka is hosting the South Asian Football Federation Championship this month, and the tournament is making history off the pitch as well as on it: Video Assistant Referee technology is being used at the semi-finals and final, marking the first time VAR has been deployed in competitive football in South Asia. Six national sides — Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives — are competing in the event, which runs until 17 November. The opening fixture between India and Pakistan drew particularly wide attention across the region, given the two nations' longstanding sporting rivalry. VAR has been adopted in stages by competitions worldwide over recent years, dividing opinion: supporters argue it reduces consequential refereeing errors, while critics say it disrupts the flow of matches and that its decisions remain inconsistent. How do you think technology should be used in sport — and does it make competitions more or less enjoyable to follow?