A retired referee and Ondo State NDLEA Commander, Raji Kayode has clamoured for the introduction of Video Assistant Referee, VAR, in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Wakawaka Sports Extra reports.
He called on Nigerian football authorities to key into the innovation of technology as part of football development across the globe.
According to him, football has become professional and the introduction of VAR has proven to be helpful in deciding critical and controversial cases in football.
While reacting to the controversial disallowed goal of Niger Tornadoes in the game with Sporting Lagos in Match Day 5 of the NPFL, the retired umpire said it was a legitimate goal that should have stood.
“When the world is moving we have to move. It’s unfortunate that we have not considered the usage of technology, particularly the Video Assistant Referee, VAR. All over the world it has proven very helpful in deciding critical and controversial cases like this. We also need to move along with the tides of time.
“We know that football has become professional and once it has become professional, everything happens in quick split seconds, everything is fast, the play is fast, the players are fast even the balls are faster than it used to be.
“So, for us to be able to stand up with the pace, we need technology because there are something levels human beings cannot operate beyond particularly when you are dealing with a lot of players and very quick and tight situations and that was why VAR was introduced.
“We have seen VAR intervene in critical cases to solve what could have been a calamity. I urge our Nigerian football authorities to also key into this critical issue in our football development. Some African countries have introduced VAR. Why are we going to be left behind? If there was VAR in the match we are talking about, it would have been very clear and wouldn’t have been difficult.
“The goal I watched it over and over again, it was a very legitimate goal. There was nothing wrong with it and you could see the Niger Tornadoes player was clearly onside. There shouldn’t be any controversy.
“We have to give some referees some benefit of doubt because they are human beings and we should also understand while we watched the goals so many times to confirm whether it was a goal or not, the referee didn’t have that benefit of re-watching it. Perhaps if he has done so, he would have taken a different decision but clearly it was legitimate goal.”
