NAB 2026: Riedel SimplyLive supports expanded centralised VAR system for Argentina football league

Riedel Communications (Booth C4908) announced that the Asociaci n del F tbol Argentino (AFA) has renewed and expanded its centralised video assistant referee (VAR) system for a further five years.

Operated by Torneos and based on Riedel's SimplyLive technology, the system was first deployed in 2021 as a centralised VAR operation. It is located at AFA's replay centre near Buenos Aires and includes five video operation rooms (VORs) and eight OB vans. The setup supports up to five simultaneous matches and between 12 and 14 matches per weekend, totalling more than 400 matches annually.

Riedel's SimplyLive solution gives us flexibility, redundancy, and ease of use, said Ramiro Prado, Director of Technology at Torneos. Our referees appreciate the intuitive touch-screen interface, and the system's ability to handle high-tier games with supermo cameras and additional feeds ensures we're ready for any challenge.

The system includes 15 SimplyLive 16-channel HD servers configured for redundancy and scalability, with two additional servers added as part of the renewal to support matches requiring more than 32 ingest channels, including standard and high-frame-rate cameras. It also incorporates SimplyLive RefBox and replay capabilities for broadcast workflows.

Each VOR and server room is configured with full redundancy to support continuous operation. The system supports NDI and SRT for integration with production workflows, while Riedel intercom technology is used for communication between referees, replay operators and production teams.

The deployment meets FIFA certification requirements, including testing and annual compliance checks. Referee training was conducted using simulator systems prior to full deployment.

This renewal by one of the world's top football federations underscores the trust placed in our technology, said Andrew Grant, Sales Manager Live Production, East, at Riedel Communications. Together with SimplyLive, we've built a centralized VAR infrastructure that meets FIFA standards while delivering tangible benefits - from reduced travel costs and improved quality of life for referees to consistent, high-quality officiating across Argentina.

Riedel is presenting its latest solutions at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas (Booth C4908).

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/04/20/nab-2026-riedel-simplylive-supp...
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