The Tanzanian government has announced plans to introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology into the local league. The announcement was made during the presentation of the national budget on Thursday.
According to the government, the move is intended to ensure equitable outcomes on the pitch.
“We want the results to be fair. It’s not acceptable that one team finishes the season having been awarded more than 10 penalties while others have their goals disallowed. Therefore, next season, we are going to use VAR,” reads the statement in part.
To support this initiative, the government intends to propose the removal of taxes on equipment essential for VAR technology from the new financial year 2024-2025.
The government says it will be collaborating closely with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of VAR ahead of the upcoming season. Referee training programs will be organized to familiarize officials with the technology and its application.
VAR technology is widely adopted in major football leagues worldwide as it provides referees with video replays to review crucial moments during matches, thereby reducing contentious decisions and ensuring accuracy.
Currently, only a few African countries, namely Morocco, South Africa, and Egypt, use VAR in their domestic competitions.
Tanzania will be the first country in East Africa to use VAR. This is a good move as the region prepares to host the 2027 AFCON finals.
