In an attempt to address lingering controversy regarding the use of the Video Assisted Referee (VAR), Argentina’s National Refereeing Committee confirmed it will release audio recordings of what was discussed during  games. Committee head former referee Federico Beligoy announced the measure will start on week four of the Copa de la Liga Profesional, September 17, after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Beligoy announced that at least two and up to four audio recordings of conversations between match referees and the VAR will be released following the games, to better show how decisions are being made and add transparency to the process

“We will start publishing the audios when we believe our team is one hundred percent ready, or rather, once they have the requisite experience [in dealing with the matter] and understand that the audios will be broadcast,” Beligoy said to Argentine sports network TyC Sports in April 2022.

The system through which audios will be made public will be very similar to the one used by the South American football confederation CONMEBOL for Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana games. 

The National Refereeing Committee has not yet confirmed if the audios set to be released will be selected at random or rather based on what happens during each weekend.

Since its introduction in Argentine football back in March 2022, the VAR has been embroiled in a number of controversies, with players, coaches and fans often failing to understand how the system works and how it’s used.

Argentina is far from the only country where this technology has proven to be controversial. World-wide, many have criticized it for making the call-making process less clear for the audience, and for the long delays that affect fans at the stadium. A number of attempts to correct these issues have already been made, like the semi-automated offside calls used during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, or the way the referee could address the stadium directly at this year’s Women’s World Cup.