AIFF’s Plans for VAR in Indian Football

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) have been informed about the potential introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Trevor Kettle, AIFF’s chief refereeing officer (CRO), mentioned that the current accuracy in ISL and I-League is around 82%. However, VAR’s implementation faces several hurdles.

Challenges to VAR Adoption

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey emphasized the goal of reducing errors in decision-making with VAR. Though VAR is a priority, the federation is considering AVRS (Additional Video Review System) as a starting option due to financial constraints. Kettle noted that, once approved, VAR could take 12 to 18 months to implement, following FIFA’s guidelines. He also highlighted the significant costs involved, particularly for infrastructure and training.

Financial Constraints

The initial cost for VAR implementation could reach ₹25 crore in the first year, with recurring costs of ₹12-13 crore annually. These figures, according to a former AIFF official, were seen as unaffordable for the I-League.

Referee Training and Evaluation

Currently, India’s 18 elite match officials are not trained for VAR, which limits their participation in top tournaments. AIFF plans to increase the number of full-time referees to 50 by 2026.

Performance is assessed through Key Match Incidents (KMI), which include decisions on penalties, goals, and offside calls. Kettle acknowledged that aiming for 83-85% accuracy leaves room for a 15-20% error margin. He noted that this would likely be unacceptable to fans and officials.

Looking Forward

The AIFF remains committed to adopting VAR in Indian football. While the timeline for implementation is still uncertain, the federation is working on overcoming the challenges of cost and training. With the right infrastructure, VAR may soon become a part of Indian football.

Nikki Glaser Golden Globes monologue at the 82nd awards ceremony was sharp, funny, and full of jabs at Hollywood’s biggest stars. However, as revealed on The Howard Stern Show, the aired version was toned down compared to her original draft. Here are 10 jokes that didn’t make it to the stage:

1. Ben Affleck’s “Jennifer” Problem

“Here’s to Ben Affleck. I can’t wait to see which Jennifer you try to ruin next.” Nikki’s quip about Affleck’s history with Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner might have been too close to the bone, especially with ongoing rumors about his relationships.

2. A Riskier Diddy Joke

Nikki opted for a playful Diddy jab in her monologue but left this out: “This is the last time all of you will be in the same room together until the Diddy trial.” She explained it felt too accusatory toward the audience.

3. Adrien Brody and Baby Hitler

Nikki’s monologue included a Holocaust survivor nod to Adrien Brody’s roles in The Pianist and The Brutalist. However, she dropped a darker joke: “If Adrien Brody could go back in time, he would thank baby Hitler for his career.” It was scrapped after her Gen-Z assistant didn’t understand the context.

4. Nicole Kidman as ‘The Wild Robot’

The joke compared Nicole Kidman to Chris Sanders’ The Wild Robot: “Nicole Kidman after two white wines.” Nikki didn’t deliver it, fearing the actress might react poorly.

5. Kate Winslet as Cocaine

Nikki considered saying, “Kate Winslet is like cocaine—she’s white, always with Leo, and I can’t wait to find her at the after-party.” The punchline about Kate’s connection to Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t make it past the editing phase.

6. Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Tragedy

In light of Alec Baldwin’s involvement in the Rust incident, Nikki cut a joke about his role in Beetlejuice: “Alec Baldwin didn’t come back as a ghost because he was too busy making them.”

7. A Grim Take on Joker 2

Nikki’s axed joke about Joker 2 referenced theater shootings: “During Joker 2, I was hoping someone would shoot it up.” She dropped it, deeming it too controversial.

8. Hollywood Legends and Financial Woes

A joke about Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Meryl Streep’s work on Only Murders in the Building was left out: “It just shows you, you’re never too old to need money still.”

9. Queer Meets Wicked

Her quip about Daniel Craig’s role in Queer: “It’s a movie and not just what my uncle calls Wicked,” didn’t make the final cut.

10. Nikki’s Signature Self-Deprecation

Known for roasting herself, Nikki almost said: “Amy Adams is nominated for Night Bitch, while I was snubbed for Day Slut.”

Nikki Glaser may have held back on some of her most biting jokes, but the ones that made it to air still left a lasting impression.

A picture circulating since New Year’s Day showing actor Shah Rukh Khan, his wife Gauri Khan, and son Aryan Khan offering prayers at Mecca has been declared fake. The photo, which shows Gauri in a black kurti with a grey hijab and Shah Rukh in a white kurta, sparked much attention. Aryan is seen standing behind Gauri, looking at his father, with the Mecca backdrop adding authenticity.

However, according to an NDTV report, the picture is not genuine. It was created using Deepfake or other Artificial Intelligence technology, not a real photograph. While many social media users initially believed the image to be authentic, others quickly identified it as AI-generated.

In a 2005 episode of Koffee with Karan, Gauri Khan shared her thoughts on Shah Rukh’s religion, stating, “I respect Shah Rukh’s religion, but that doesn’t mean I would convert and become a Muslim. Everyone is an individual and follows their religion.”

Shah Rukh and Gauri, who began dating in the late 1980s, married in 1991. They have three children: Aryan, Suhana Khan, and AbRam Khan.

Aryan is preparing for his directorial debut with Stardom, a Netflix India series about the film industry. It will be produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and star Bobby Deol and Mona Singh.

Shah Rukh, meanwhile, is set to appear in the upcoming crime drama King, which will also feature his daughter Suhana. The film is expected to release next year.