J.League to reintroduce VAR from 2021

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J.League has announced that it will be reintroducing VAR for Meji Yasuda J1 League matches for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

J.League has announced that it will be reintroducing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for Meji Yasuda J1 League matches for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

In September 2019, it was announced that would be implementing VAR for the 2020 season, however nine days into the season it was announced that the competition was being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Four months later upon the restart of the league it was also decided that VAR would not be used for the rest of the season. J.League said that this was due to its “tight schedule and limited number of referees.”

VAR will be implemented for a total of 394 matches during the 2021 season – this includes 380 Meji Yasuda J1 League matches, one Super Cup match and 13 J. League YBC Levain Cup, Prime Stage matches.

The 2022 season will see VAR used for 321 matches – including 306 Meji Yasuda J1 League matches, one Super Cup match, 13 J. League YBC Levain Cup, Prime Stage matches and one J1 Promotion Playoff Final.

“The development of J.League is a crucial factor for Japanese football to reach new heights, and the J.League is currently setting their goal to reach the heights of Europe’s top five leagues by 2030,” Chairman Ogawa Yoshimi of the Japanese Football Association Referees Committee said in February 2020.

“With VAR (video assistant referee) already being implemented in many leagues in Europe, the J.League must follow the same footsteps in order to achieve their goal. Therefore, JFA will work together with J.League to proceed with the implementation of VAR to help raise the level of Japanese football.”

J.League said that is still yet to be determined if the 2022 Super Cup match (which is played between the reigning Emperor’s Cup winners and J1 League Champions) and the J1 Promotion Playoff Final will be played.

The number of matches in the 2022 Meji Yasuda J1 League season is also dependent on the league staying at its current number of 18 clubs.

Relegation has been suspended for 2020 season due to the pandemic. The top two J2 League clubs for the 2020 season will be automatically promoted into the Meji Yasuda J1 League, increasing the number of teams in the competition to 20.

Four clubs will then be relegated from J1 to J2 after the 2021 season. Two clubs will also be promoted which is set to restore the number of clubs in the J.League to 18.

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Daniel Foley is a sports junior journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on football policy and micro industry matters.

Brisbane Roar confirm deal with CSQ for 2024/25 season

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Image credit: Brisbane Roar website

Brisbane Roar have collaborated a new partnership with Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ), who will join the club as a Platinum Partner for the 2024/25 season.

CSQ, dedicated to training and developing the Queensland building and construction industry, is focused on inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in construction.

By partnering with Brisbane Roar, CSQ aims to engage with passionate young football fans and introduce them to the exciting opportunities within the construction industry.

This collaboration will be highlighted through CSQ’s sponsorship of the half-time heroes activation at both A-League Men’s and A-League Women’s matches.

Brisbane Roar CEO and Chairman, Kaz Patafta expressed his excitement for the future with this partnership.

“Brisbane Roar are delighted to welcome Construction Skills Queensland on board for the upcoming season as an official Platinum Partner,” Patafta said in a club statement.

“We’re very thankful to the CSQ team for supporting our club and look forward to growing this partnership over the next year.”

CSQ CEO Geoff Clare emphasised the importance of the partnership in extending the reach of their Construction Pathways campaign, which has primarily targeted high school students.

“We have been busy spreading the word about careers in construction through programs and campaigns targeting high schoolers and their teachers and families,” Clare said in a statement.

“It is exciting for us to broaden the reach of Construction Pathways messaging to include the younger fan base and young families through Brisbane Roar.

“We see great synergies between the dynamic energy of the game and the unparalleled opportunities to progress in a successful construction career.

“There has been a real shift in how construction is viewed by the community, with more smart young people choosing construction as their first choice after school.

“Conversations and opinions about future careers are happening from an early age and we are excited to be able to spark some new thinking about construction in young Roar fans.”

Brisbane Roar are always one of the busiest clubs in the A-Leagues in regards to their business dealings and they have expanded their corporate portfolio yet again.

This partnerships also provides a unique opportunity to engage their younger fanbase, offering them valuable insights into the construction industry while leveraging CSQ’s extensive national reach.

Wellington Phoenix unite with Entelar Group as principal partner

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Image credit: Wellington Phoenix Instagram

Wellington Phoenix have confirmed Entelar Group has joined the club as one of its principal partners for the upcoming season.

As ‘New Zealand’s total connection company,’ Entelar Group will be featured alongside OPPO as the Phoenix’s front-of-shirt partners for the 2024-25 A-Leagues.

OPPO, the global smart device brand, has renewed its commitment for a fourth season as a principal partner and will be prominently displayed on the men’s home and women’s away shirts this season. Entelar Group will take the spotlight on the women’s home and men’s away jerseys.

Additionally, Entelar Group has pledged its support to the club’s award-winning Football For All programme, which helps eliminate barriers for thousands of Tamariki and Rangatahi to participate in futsal or football in Aotearoa.

Phoenix general manager David Dome mentioned the great support of OPPO over the last three seasons and his enthusiasm for the new partnership.

“We’re delighted to have Entelar Group join OPPO as our principal partners for the upcoming A-League season,” Phoenix general manager David Dome said in a club statement.

“It’s an exciting time to be involved in football and Entelar Group is an exciting New Zealand company that are ambitious, like us.

“By getting behind our Football For All programme New Zealand’s total connection company is not only giving back to the game but connecting communities.

“OPPO New Zealand has been one of our biggest supporters for the past three years and our national fan base has played a part in making it the respected and loved brand it is in Aotearoa today.

“We’ve enjoyed working with the OPPO New Zealand team and look forward to taking our partnership with them to a new level this season.”

Entelar Group CEO Rajesh Singh shared his excitement about joining the Wellington Phoenix whānau.

“The timing couldn’t be better with the increasing popularity of football in Aotearoa,” Singh said in a statement.

“So many of our people all over the country, as well as our customers, suppliers, and partners are all big fans of the Phoenix, making this relationship even more special to show our commitment to building connections with New Zealand businesses and the wider community.”

OPPO New Zealand managing director Morgan Halim spoke about the fantastic connection they have created with the Wellington Phoenix.

“This partnership has been a game-changer for OPPO in New Zealand, allowing us to connect with fans nationwide,” Halim said in a statement.

“We’re excited to welcome Entelar Group on board and look forward to making this season the most memorable one yet for our supporters.”

The OPPO logo has been iconic on the Phoenix shirt over the past few seasons and the club have done fantastically to grow their business portfolio with another big New Zealand company in Entelar Group.

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