By Elegbede Abiodun
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially said that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be instrumental from the knockout stage right through to the final in both of its premier inter-club competitions: the Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
The continental football body clarified that VAR will be operational throughout the knockout rounds of both tournaments. This move is part of CAF’s ongoing commitment to elevate officiating standards and ensure fairness in these decisive matches, where the stakes are incredibly high.
Consequently, participating clubs are now expected to guarantee that their home grounds adhere to the stipulated benchmarks for VAR implementation. Failure to meet these requirements could result in their quarter-final fixtures being relocated to alternative, approved venues. The quarter-final matches are slated to commence in the coming weeks, with teams across the continent intensifying their preparations both on and off the pitch.
