SINGAPORE: Singapore hopes having the video assistant referee (VAR) system will boost the country's chances of hosting major football tournaments, and open the doors for more local referees to officiate on the global stage. VAR technology will be introduced to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) for the upcoming season, after the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) recently got the green light to use it in the country's professional football league. VAR technology is already a staple in top football leagues in Europe and Asia. Singapore will become the 11th Asian country to use VAR in its local professional league. FAS had passed a final assessment by the world football governing body FIFA after an implementation process that started last February, during which visits by FIFA personnel and regular VAR training for local match officials were conducted.