The Tanzania Premier League has announced that it will introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology for the upcoming season, making it the first country in East Africa to do so.
The announcement was made on Monday afternoon, confirming Tanzania’s commitment to enhancing the accuracy of refereeing decisions in the top flight league.
The use of VAR in African football has been gradually gaining traction, with North African countries and South Africa already adopting the technology last season. Ivory Coast is also set to introduce VAR in the upcoming season.
The technology was first introduced in the Laws of the Game in 2018/19, and FIFA has been assessing its implementation through the FIFA Quality Programme for VAR Technology.
There are two types of VAR setups currently permitted: full VAR systems, which use at least four cameras, and VAR Light, which uses four to eight cameras and requires the VAR to operate the system independently.
Tanzania’s adoption of VAR is a significant development in the region, particularly as it prepares to host the 2027 AFCON finals. This move is expected to enhance the quality of refereeing in the Tanzania Premier League and set a precedent for other East African countries to follow.
