Borovilos: “Greek referees with foreigners in VAR”

Giorgos Borovilos expressed the opinion that it is preferable, more economical but also fairer to hold the Super League matches with Greek referees and with foreigners in VAR in his statements at the Open Trial.

“If three experienced VARs come and do their job well, I think we will have a fairer championship for all teams. Why isn’t it nice now that half of the matches are played with foreign referees and the other half are played with Greeks”added the president of Asteras Tripoli who pointed out the need for VAR procedures to be done faster.

What he said in detail at the Open Trial:

If Greek taxpayers pay VAR again:

“This is a big talk. It’s a matter for the government, I don’t know what it thinks about it. It is important that now VAR has entered our lives, under no circumstances should we think that we can operate without VAR, as long as we use it correctly and not as before. Because this VAR is definitely needed but the way it is used is very wrong. That is, in many phases the use of VAR and a long time to make a decision to the extent that a fan who loves football would say “a thousand times wrong than right after ten minutes”. VAR is a big deal.”

For the possible entry of semi-automatic offside and goal line technology:



“It’s definitely a step in the right direction. But I say again that proper training should be given to the referees and not to stop a match 5 and 10 times. The VAR must be to correct something serious and of course with the goal line technology there should be no injustices but it should be used correctly. In a few phases and quick decisions. If we do not achieve this, instead of an advantage we will have a disadvantage.”

If it matters that we have Swedes in charge of KED and VAR is not used in their country:



“The fact that there are countries that do not use VAR does not mean that we should adopt such a tactic. We live in 2024, technology is advancing, we cannot say “better without VAR”. I think that the fact that VAR is not used in Sweden we will overcome it on the logic that there are people who know about VAR and its training. I don’t think that will be an issue. Besides, Mr. Freudfeld himself will not be called upon to use it.”

If the composition with Greek referees on the pitch and foreign referees in VAR can work:



“My opinion is that VARists should be foreigners in all league games and let them be Greeks inside. Because the cost is very low and it is easy to use and because in a competitive Saturday-Sunday-Monday with three VARists you can do your job. If three experienced VARs come in and do their job well, I think we will have a fairer league for all teams. Why isn’t it nice now that half of the matches are played with foreign referees and the other half are played with Greeks. And who is the one who evaluates that the Championship is important for someone who will get millions, and may he get it and do well and represent us with victories in Europe, but neither should the… “bad guy” who struggles to remain in the category of saying “hey, it’s okay, baby”. We cannot have double standards. Who is it that assesses that it is in the interest of the A team to look at it and guard it in the A, B or C way and the other team which is struggling to stay in the division to be chaos, 3000 meters cliff? We don’t care there because it’s called Atromitos, Asteras, Kifisia, etc. I say that justice should be given more correctly to all groups. This is my proposal: a Greek on the grass and a foreigner in VAR for everyone.”

For the negative responses from top referees of European federations:



“I said before that with three VARs you can cover all the games. If three VARs come they can cover two games each. A good will to make the league fair to all teams. Why should the one who is in the first places have a foreign referee and the one who is in the last should not have a fate in the sun? We are talking about the same Championship. And we assess that the interests of one are stronger than the other.”

How does the League see the fact that the EPO wants to appeal to the supranational federations on the subject of the Vroutsis law:



“In matters related to football, it is good for football to decide for the sport itself. In legal matters that go beyond football as such, there are lawyers to answer better than me.”