Media discover VAR operations in open day with the referees
On the pitch, two teams go head-to-head. There are decisive actions. A tackle made in the area by the goalkeeper makes the public react to the edge of the field. The striker on the ground looks up to demand a penalty. The referee touches his headset, he seems to be listening to his assistants' advice. After a few moments, he walks over to the screen installed on the touchline.
A video clip is shown but he asks for more “Show me another angle,” he says. He looks at the footage one last time before heading back onto the pitch and indicating there is no fault. The game is restarted. This is VAR!
Media covering the ongoing Total African Nations Championship (CHAN), Cameroon 2020 were invited to discover the work of the referees during an open day that took place on Monday (1 February 2021) morning at the Japoma Stadium in Douala.
"The aim of this initiative is to make the use of VAR known to the media, to present the VAR Operational Room and to lift the veil on the preparation of referees before matches and during competitions", says Mamadou Haidara, Manager of CAF Refereeing department.
About fifty journalists came to watch the simulation, eager to learn more about the VAR system and the instant decision-making of match officials.
Among the experts present were Célestin Ntagungira and Evehe Divine, both referee assessors and CAF instructors.
The objective was to inform press about the development programs of refereeing and particularly VAR, to exchange talk between referees and the media, and allow experienced instructors to talk about VAR project in Africa.
Since they generate interest, referees had also to justify their working methods, which are often misunderstood by the public and fans.
Alioum Alioum from Cameroon, Papa Gassama from Gambia and some of the most famous referees on the continent played the game of questions and answers. Carine Atemzabong, one of the four female referees present for the competition, also responded to journalists’ questions.
VAR, operational in CHAN starting from the quarterfinals, has been discreet during Mali - Congo and DR Congo - Cameroon matches, but was decisive in the match between Morocco and Zambia as well as that of Guinea and Rwanda.
For match officials, VAR helps with decision-making when actions are happening very quickly or out of sight of the referees on the pitch.
While the VAR Operational Room on one side captured all attention, the other side of the pitch served as the referees' physical preparation.
The following referees participated on the day: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria), Boubou Traore (Mali), Olivier Safari Kabene (DR Congo), Zakhele Siwela (South Africa), Jean-Jacques Ndala (DRC), Adil Zourak (Morocco), Hassani Khalil (Tunisia), Issa Yaya (Chad), Alioum Alioum (Cameroon), Mahmoud ElBanna (Egypt), Elvis Noupue (Cameroon), Dahane Beida (Mauritania), Ahmad Imtehaz Heralall (Mauritius), Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia) and Mahmoud Abouelregal (Egypt).
“The day was a success. There is nothing wrong with the organization. The press respected the instructions given concerning contact with the referees,” concluded Haidara.