Just yesterday, we saw another VAR incident in the Algeria versus Nigeria match where the referee and his assistant waved on a clear penalty shout when Mandi handled the ball from an Etebo speculative drive before he was called back for checks by the VAR and after lengthy negotiations opted for an OFR (On-field review) after which he ruled the penalty from which Odion Ighalo scored to get Nigeria back into the game.


VAR just like Goal Line Technology is one of technology's intervention in football to help referees make correct or near correct decisions from incidents which they might have missed out on, by providing footages of the incident from different angles. The VAR team stationed in the VOR (Video Operating Room) consists of a FIFA official, 2 Assistant-VARs and 2-4 replay officials who provide the different camera angles with which the incident is to be reviewed. Incidents reviewed ranges from Goals, Penalty, Red cards and mistaken identity. Whenever VAR communicates a possible, clear or obvious error to the referee,the referee might decide to overturn the decision on advice of VAR, opt for an On-field review or choose to ignore the advice as the Refree's decision is the ultimate.

Many people see the introduction of VAR as a positive step forward in providing a more sporting result as infringements will be handled with more genuity. But despite the reviews, decisions still boils down to human interpretation of play. While many supporters feel VAR disrupts the flair of the game wastes time during checks, creates as much confusion as clarity. But just like Goal-line technology, it certain, VAR is here to stay.

So what do you think about VAR? Is it a positive innovation or do you feel it has created more ambiguities and disturbs the natural flow of the beautiful game of football? Any incident you feel VAR made the wrong decision? What are your thoughts?

Good of course, just that INEC doesn't have one