The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be introduced from the quarterfinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations starting on Wednesday, increasing the possibility of drama, especially as Nigeria clash with rivals, South Africa in Cairo.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) originally planned to use VAR from the semi-final stage, but it will now be effective as from the last eight games.
Several marginally offside calls and an erroneous handball decision which Ghana felt might have contributed to their early exit from the tournament have been the extent of controversies so far at the 2019 edition of the tournament in Egypt.
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VAR has not been extensively used on the African continent, but it has produced situations which have tarnished the game’s image and been part of the administrative malaise that caused FIFA to step in and take over the running of CAF from next month.
The second leg of the African Champions League final was abandoned in May in a row over the absence of the technology after was planned to be used.
When the referee disallowed an effort by Wydad Casablanca, they stormed off in protest that VAR had not been consulted, even though they had been told before the game that the system was not operational.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin
2 Comments
It is a welcomed development as the two goals we scored against Bafana in their backyard and in the qualifiers were cancelled by refs, which if reviewed by VAR would have stood as clinical goals. VAR, you are welcomed.
CAF wan kukuma spoil this tournament.
i hate this VAR of a thing.