The customer
The Estonian Football Association is the governing body of football, beach soccer and futsal in Estonia, established on 14 December 1921. It organizes the football league, including the championship which is called Meistriliiga, Estonian Cup and the Estonian national football team. It is based in Tallinn. The EJL (Eesti Jalgpalli Liit) is a member of FIFA.
With more than 30 seasons under its belt, the Estonian Football Championship is held every year from March to November. It brings together ten elite teams in a total of 180 matches.
The brief
The Estonian Football Association needed to deploy a VAR Light video refereeing solution for its league 1st division Championship. They chose VOGO ELITE BUNDLE solution.
The deployed solution
The VOGO ELITE BUNDLE solution combines the VOKKERO ELITE communication and VOGOSPORT ELITE video replay solutions to provide a complete, turnkey VAR light chain:
- for the video part, the VOGOSPORT ELITE solution offers the possibility of viewing simultaneous streams, zoom, replay, slow motion… Each stadium is fiber-connected to the central VOR Room, and RRA areas in each of them enable pitch referees to visualize VAR footages for relevant decisions,
- for the audio solution, VOKKERO ELITE audio technology with patented noise filter enables hands-free, plug & play operation.
The result
A tailor-made solution
The VOGO ELITE BUNDLE solution was implemented on the basis of the Federation’s detailed specifications. The Federation opted for a centralized VOR Room for all clubs and matches.
The room, equipped with 3 complete workstations, is located in the heart of the National Stadium in Tallin. It enables video refereeing of 3 simultaneous matches during the championship.
Easy to use
VOGO has worked closely with the Federation to train VARs and AVARs. All the referees have been trained, so that each of them can now officiate either on the pitch or in the VOR Room, depending on the match.
VOGO’s intuitive, ergonomic solution enables VARs to be totally autonomous in handling videos. There’s no replay operator in this VAR Light configuration, as the VAR handles the VOGOSPORT ELITE solution himself.
The system is installed in the TV broadcaster van and is completly plug and play on each stadium and does not require the operation of a dedicated VAR technician.
A single provider
By combining its audio and video solutions, VOGO is a unique service provider for the Federation, providing technical support for the entire VAR chain.
“We have embarked on this partnership because of the quality of VOGO’s technological solutions, already being used in the world’s largest sporting events and for VOGO’s involvement in this project and their goal to make VAR technology accessible and simpler also in VAR Light setting”.
Hannes Kaasik,
Director of the Estonian Football Federation’s Refereeing Department
“This solution provides us with invaluable support in our decision-making to ensure fair and equitable refereeing. It is adapted to our specific needs and allows us to be totally autonomous”.
Kristo Thover,
FIFA Referee, VAR Project Manager
The solutions we use
Discover the solutions used in this case study