SFZ and Niké League Unveil Centralized VAR System in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

Monitors, men with headsets, and a constant stream of data flowing in the adjacent room. No, this is not a data center, but the new Goal Sport Software Centralized (VAR) Video Assistant Referee Hub introduced to the media at the Central Slovak Football Association headquarters in Banská Bystrica. On Monday, September 16, the Union of League Clubs (ÚLK), the Slovak Football Association (SFZ), and technology partner Orange Slovensko, held an informal meeting to present the operations of the VAR system. As of the 2024/25 season, VAR will be used for the first time in all matches of the Niké League. 

The VAR system was first made available to referees during selected matches in the spring of 2021, but it is now operational for every game in each round. “This represents a clear step forward in our development. At the start, it was essential to get unanimous support from the clubs to proceed. Over time, VAR has become a key part of our league, as well as the competitions we aspire to match. The process was both time-consuming and costly, taking almost a year. I want to take this opportunity to thank our partners—the Slovak Football Association, our technology partner Orange, broadcaster Markíza Slovensko, and our team. Everyone worked hard to bring us to where we are today,” said Ivan Kozák, president of ÚLK.

This represents a clear step forward in our development. 

Ivan Kozák, president of ÚLK

With two mobile broadcasting units and two control rooms at the Central Slovak Football Association in Banská Bystrica, the VAR system is capable of managing up to four matches per day. Peter Palenčík, SFZ’s General Secretary, noted that this centralized location had been planned for years: “The Football Venue in Banská Bystrica is ideally located in the heart of Slovakia. Since the 2020/2021 season, when VAR was introduced for just two matches, we’ve made significant technological progress. Now, in partnership with ÚLK, we can manage four matches daily. VAR is essential for us as it helps ensure match integrity and minimizes errors.”

Though VAR provides recommendations, the final decision always rests with the on-field referee. Last year’s best league referee, Ivan Kružliak, noted that VAR helps eliminate major mistakes that could go unnoticed during matches. “I am a supporter of VAR because it helps us correct significant errors during games, especially in crucial moments, like awarding a penalty that the referee may have missed or disallowing an irregular goal, for instance, one scored from an offside position. These are situations that can be difficult to spot with the naked eye, and having this technological tool allows us to review and correct such mistakes, which is always a plus for referees,” said the highly respected Slovak referee, who has extensive experience in international football.

VAR is essential for us as it helps ensure match integrity and minimizes errors. 

Peter Palenčík, SFZ’s General Secretary

The successful implementation of VAR in all Niké League matches relied on a strong technology partner. Katarína Boledovičová, Director of B2B and Customer Experience at Orange Slovensko, explained the process: “VAR is the result of our six-year collaboration with ÚLK and SFZ. The preparation took around 14 months, from the initial agreement to execution. This involved equipping mobile broadcast vehicles, refining TV signal post-production, and setting up the VAR hub in Banská Bystrica. The focus was on speed, reliability, and minimizing response time. Our goal is to quickly transmit the signal from the stadium to the central hub and then to referees and TV viewers.”

Extracted from SFZ