The African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 will mark a historic milestone in Ugandan football as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is officially introduced for the first time in the country.
CAF Competitions Officer Serge Aussume confirmed this groundbreaking announcement during a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) meeting held on Tuesday at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi.
Aussume who is also the CAF Host Country Manager emphasized the system’s significance in ensuring fair play and accurate officiating.
“VAR will enhance the integrity and quality of the games, aligning with global football standards,” he stated during the meeting.
He added that CAF would get in touch with the different Local Organising Committees to ensure that equipment and facilities are in place for the successful deployment of VAR.
CAF has successfully deployed VAR at continental competitions with the previous AFCON in Ivory Coast hailed as a benchmark for the best use case of VAR.
VAR technology, designed to assist referees in making more accurate decisions, will be employed at the Mandela National Stadium. As part of its extensive renovations, the stadium recently received a dedicated VAR room.
VAR uses video review to support referees in making decisions on crucial match incidents, such as goals, penalties, offside rulings, and red card offences.
It aims to reduce errors, increase fairness, and ensure that the outcomes of games are decided more accurately.
State Minister for Education and Sports, Peter Ogwang, reiterated the government’s commitment to providing world-class facilities for CHAN 2024, stating that all infrastructure, including the VAR setup, will be completed by February 1, 2025.
Ugandans have been hoping for the introduction of VAR in the local league and hope the successful implementation of the technology during CHAN will be a taste of what is to come in the Uganda Premier League.
