Carmen Retuerto, president of Conar: “From 1 to 10, when using the VAR I put 8” | League 1 Betsson

-How do you feel that the use of VAR is going in the tournament?

We have started in the Clausura and in general there has been a good performance, a good use of the tool. There are details to improve for the same reason that we are in a process of adaptation. We have 36 certified referees and that is being worked on. There will be errors, but they are procedural, which have been minimal. The VAR has helped a lot with the decisions that the field referee has not been able to appreciate.

-The 36 certified referees can direct and be VAR?

Let’s see. We had six referees already certified by VAR, who are Kevin Ortega, Michael Espinoza and Diego Haro as principals and Jonny Bossio, Víctor Raez and Coti Carrera as assistants. In the first certification that we have done, there have been 24 referees and 12 assistants, but like any work group, not all of them have the same abilities. Some are going to enter little by little and those who are stronger are going to have more opportunities.

-So there are 28 trained

Those who can go in the cabin as VAR or AVAR and in the field are 28 referees. Only AVAR certified attendees cannot be VARs. There are certificates that little by little are entering. Referees certified as AVAR are going with a strong VAR so that they can take their preparation more strongly and then occupy that space.

-We know that the audios are not made public, but what happens if the clubs tell the press what was said?

We have nothing to hide. Clubs are invited to listen to the audios when they have any questions or complaints so that they know what the conversation between the cabin and field referees has been. If there are doubts we will explain.

-But can the clubs tell details of what is being discussed?

I don’t know if they would, there should be no reason to make public what has been discussed if they already have the situation clear, but that is beyond us.

-With Melgar there was already a controversy

We have spoken with Melgar, with Mr. Villamarín, and they recognized that due to ignorance of the rule they were making the claim. It was explained to them that with the rules of the game the penalty was maintained because the offside was not consummated. What we want is to clarify each situation.

-You said that the VAR is being evaluated by FIFA. What is it about?

We have already complied with all the VAR implementation processes. Now we are in a supervision process. FIFA monitors how it is being used. We have a tool where all the videos are uploaded for FIFA to analyze and see that we are complying with the rules and protocols and that lasts for about two years. From then on, FIFA already tells you that you have complied and you can use it freely and it is up to you to make the audios public. For now we do not see it as convenient.

-If they feel that the VAR is going well, can they be made public before those two years?

Possibly later it will be evaluated. On these dates we have had good results, we have started with nine games per date when it was implemented progressively in other countries. It has been a very big challenge and we are on the right track. The referees are prepared and are doing a good job.

-Have you demanded that the number of cameras be increased?

FIFA requires a minimum of four and we have seven. With that amount we are fine because what we need is being covered. The cameras that go to the center of the towers, the master and close up, the two 16-50 on the sides that is for offside, two that go behind the goals. Surely for a decisive match later on goal line cameras can be increased, that will be progressively. That will be seen with the League how many cameras can be increased.

-I have heard self-criticism about the level of arbitration in the Opening. What do you think caused this, poor physical condition or misinterpretation of the regulations?

There were mistakes in the Opening. We go through a bad time, like football teams. It was difficult, hard. There was even a club that requested foreign referees and that is worrying for us. They are physically well-prepared referees, they train from Monday to Thursday, they have weekly technical training. Yes they are ready. We didn’t understand what was happening because the errors were decisive in games for various clubs.

-Now with the VAR they are more monitored too

At this stage of the Closing we hope that it will not happen because they are final stages and that is when you should be more focused. Although there is VAR, good decisions must be made on the field because good refereeing starts from there.

-Why do you see decisions by the same referee with different criteria for what seems to be the same play or action?

Every week an analysis of the controversial plays is carried out, in which the application and interpretation of the regulation is evaluated. If there is any observation, a decision is made that in most cases only remains within the institution.

-There is much talk of punishing, of vetoing the referees. Do I ask what is done with referees who have mistakes?

We personally meet with them, with those who have had difficulties in a match to give them support because they come from criticism from the public and from journalism. We have to give them support, that they have that mentality to overcome. We see the videos, why he was located, why he made that decision, what was the communication with the assistant, what was the reading of the game, what was the procedure, if he did the preventive work. There were also complaints about disciplinary sanctions, many of which were yellow cards, which is why we talked about doing preventive work with the players, but you can’t spend the whole game like this. The teams don’t help either. We are inviting the clubs to meet because this is not only the responsibility of the referees. The responsibility is shared because the players do not support anything. They put their arm on his shoulder and hold their faces, they protest everything. In the technical area they also protest, everyone claims and they do not allow the game to be fluid. They tell us why it’s different in the Copa Libertadores, but the level of play is higher and they don’t have time to complain there. Here it is different. The players must do their part because these referees are the ones who will always lead. They say they don’t want one or the other, but we can’t work that way. We do not have a large group, there are 28 certificates and not all of them have the same level. We have to work on that.

How is your relationship with the clubs going?

We are requesting VAR talks for each club. The quality managers, members of the committees and instructors have been scheduled to travel with the refereeing group and this is used to give talks to the clubs. They have a notion of what the VAR is, but they don’t know the regulations in depth. If they know when it should be applied, time will no longer be wasted on claims. They have been given to Cienciano, Mannucci. They have requested Binacional, Melgar and so we are moving forward with the clubs.

-And how do the referees take those who are not rescheduled on the following dates?

They take it well because they know that they have been wrong and they have to accept it because if not, they will not grow. If they believe that it is unfair or that they are being penalized, they will not grow because there is evidence of the error. They have to work on it to improve.

-We have seen that they have published videos explaining some situations. It was done last year too. Are you going to resume that activity?

We have coordinated it with the arbitration department to, in order to clarify the different situations based on the rules of the game, publish videos not only of the good things, but also of the errors. We are going to resume this job of publishing the videos of the different situations to clarify and that people are convinced that a good or bad decision was made. This week we are going to put a video of the ‘U’ penalty that could be repeated and the VAR did not intervene. Clarify that intervention should have been made and that there was an error. Not only will good plays be published, controversial plays will be clarified based on the regulation.

Why can’t the referees give statements?

It is to take care of the referee’s image and not expose him. When the referee does a good job, nobody wants to interview him and when there is a controversy, everyone looks for him. We are not here to expose the referee, which is why he cannot give statements.

-Anything that needs to be improved in the VAR? The delay in decision making?

It is that there are different situations for delays. The interpretative plays that take a little longer. For offside delays because you have to put the lines. When there are other checks, it is done quickly or as we call it, it is cleaned quickly and resumes. So far there have been no long delays.

-What grade do you give to the use of VAR?

From 1 to 10 I put 8, a passing grade. The VAR in general is intervening in accordance with the protocols and it is working well. There are some plays that we must analyze to improve and above all, listen to the audios to see what was the communication from the VOR with the referee.

-What to say when it is accused that the errors have something behind?

We are calm on that side. We want to reverse what happened in the Opening with a good job and that everything is transparent and above all fair. That the clubs understand that there is nothing behind it, everything is transparent, there is nothing to hide.