The use of VAR in Liga MX Femenil has long been a topic of debate, and its current implementation remains limited to the Liguilla. This means that in high stakes playoff matches, referees have access to video assistance, while the regular season games continue without this technology. Fans and clubs in Mexico’s women’s league have watched from the sidelines as the men’s division benefited from VAR across the league, the playoffs, and the finals, creating a notable disparity in how officiating tools are deployed between the two branches.
Since its controversial arrival in Apertura 2018, many wondered when VAR would reach the Women’s MX League. It would take several years before any visible changes occurred, and even then the tool arrived only for the final phase of the season. The contrast with the men’s league is striking: VAR is used during the entire schedule, including the championship rounds, whereas in the women’s league its use has been restricted to the most critical matches in the Liguilla.
The first VAR moment in the country happened on matchday 13 of Apertura 2018, in a game between Atlas and Veracruz. As the sport’s leadership spoke about future expansion, Mikel Arriola announced before the 2022 Apertura that VAR would make its debut in the Women’s MX League during the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals match between Cruz Azul and Chivas at the Estadio Azteca became the stage for this historic milestone on the field. Since that milestone, there has been little movement on a broader, regular adoption of VAR for Liga MX Femenil referees beyond that predetermined playoff window.
Today, there is a persistent question among fans and analysts about whether VAR will become a standard feature across all rounds of the season. The absence of a clear, nationwide policy on year‑round VAR use leaves many games without video assistance, raising debates about consistency, fairness, and the overall pace of development for the women’s game. As leagues around the world push for unified officiating standards, Liga MX Femenil has faced calls to expand VAR coverage to the regular season and all playoff rounds. The aim is to reduce officiating errors in crucial moments, promote equal treatment for players, and accelerate the professional growth of the league. This ongoing discussion reflects a broader trend in global football toward more transparent and accountable officiating, even as concrete steps toward expansion remain on hold for the moment. The future of VAR in the women’s league may hinge on continued investment, training, and consensus among federation leaders, clubs, and referees alike, to eventually normalize the use of video technology in all competitive settings.
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