Nigeria Leagues
Nigerian referees set to undergo Video Assistant Referee training – NFF
By Saheed Afolabi
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has revealed plans to train referees in the use of modern Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
The decision comes following FIFA’s official approval of VAR at the 2018 FIFA World Cup during the World Football Governing Body Council meeting on March 16, 2018.
Gusau emphasized that selected referees will undergo extensive training over several months to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively utilize VAR. He clarified that implementing VAR requires trained personnel who understand its operations thoroughly.
“We have to train the personnel that will manage the VAR now. We have selected some of the referees that we are to start training,” Gusau stated at the NPFL club owners AGM in Abuja.
“It is not a training of one day, one month or two months; it is a training that will take a little bit of time. After the training, they have to undergo practical training on the VAR system by observing matches where VAR is in use to understand its management.”
Gusau further explained the phased approach to implementing VAR in Nigerian football, indicating that it will take about one to two years to ensure referees are sufficiently prepared before full integration into the system.
The move signifies Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing officiating standards in football matches through modern technology, aligning with global best practices in sports officiating.
