Vietnamese football receives unexpected news about VAR

Vietnamese football has just received surprising news regarding VAR technology, as the video assistant referee system will be implemented earlier than planned in the 2025/2026 National First Division.

For the first time in the 2025/2026 National First Division season, VAR technology will be used in the headline match of round 5 between Truong Tuoi Dong Nai and Bac Ninh, a contest considered a turning point in the race for promotion to the V.League.

According to information from the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF), the use of VAR in this match aims to ensure fairness and transparency in officiating, as both teams are showing impressive form and are regarded as leading candidates for promotion this season.

Before round 5, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai leads the standings with 10 points from 4 unbeaten matches. Meanwhile, Bac Ninh is in fourth place with 8 points, just 2 points behind the home team. Therefore, the result of this match could change the top group dynamics, especially if one team wins, gaining a significant advantage for the remainder of the season.

At the V.League level, VAR has become a familiar tool assisting referees in handling sensitive situations, but in the First Division, the use of this technology remains quite rare. Only matches with critical importance or a major impact on the promotion race are selected for its deployment.

Last season, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai experienced VAR twice: in the first leg against Phu Dong Ninh Binh and notably in the dramatic promotion play-off match against SHB Da Nang. These experiences have given coach Nguyen Viet Thang’s team considerable confidence ahead of this return.

The Truong Tuoi Dong Nai – Bac Ninh match will take place at 6 PM on October 26 at Binh Phuoc Stadium (Dong Nai). With VAR support, fans hope the match will be fair, exciting, and full of drama, worthy of being the highlight of round 5 in the 2025/2026 First Division.