Prosper Harrison Addo, the general secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has provided an explanation for the postponement of the Ghana Premier League’s implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
Although VAR was first anticipated to be introduced this season, it now seems doubtful that it will happen as scheduled.
Addo assured supporters in an interview with 3Sports that the GFA is still dedicated to using VAR to raise officiating standards.
“We are on the journey to acquiring VAR, but some countries have more financial resources than others, allowing them to progress faster. VAR is not something you can simply purchase; there are several steps involved, including training for referees and VAR technicians. We have been working with FIFA on this process,” Addo explained.
He further highlighted that while FIFA initially engaged member associations on VAR adoption, the high costs became a major barrier. To tackle this, FIFA is now collaborating with another company to develop a more affordable alternative called “VAR Light.” However, this version of the technology will still take time before it is ready for use.
“Since the full VAR system is costly, we are opting for the second option, but our referees have already undergone some level of VAR training,” Addo added.
Following a three-week suspension following the sad stabbing of a fan in Nsoatre, the Ghana Premier League is scheduled to resume play on March 7.
The GFA has tightened safety regulations in reaction to recent security issues in order to combat hooliganism and guarantee a safer atmosphere for players and spectators.
