Alex Kotey, the Referees Manager for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and head of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) project, believes that the introduction of VAR will significantly enhance the credibility of officiating in the Ghana Premier League.
His comments come in the wake of numerous controversial refereeing decisions that have left fans dissatisfied.
Recently, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) convened an important meeting with GFA representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the implementation of VAR in Ghana’s domestic leagues. This two-day meeting, attended by FIFA’s full VAR project team, marked the first phase of FIFA’s Implementation Assessment Approval Program (IAAP), which is a critical step for any Member Association (MA) seeking to adopt VAR.
In an interview with Citi Sports following the event, Kotey provided insights into the discussions held with VAR officials. This session, known as the “VAR kick-off meeting,” was essential for reviewing key aspects of the VAR project and evaluating all the requirements necessary for a successful rollout.
Once FIFA grants approval based on this meeting, Ghana’s domestic leagues will officially move forward with the implementation of VAR.
“The first benefit is that it would bring credibility to the league—a high level of credibility,” Kotey stated. “A typical example is the AFCON 2024, which we all saw was a success because of VAR. So yes, credibility in our game will be significantly elevated if we are able to implement this technology.”
