The President of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Misa Gusau has disclosed the ministry’s plan to introduce Video Assisted Referees, VAR in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.
Gusau made this known at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu while addressing journalists at the end of the opening game of the premier league between defending champion, Rangers International and Wkki Tourists.

Gusau who attested that VAR requires a capable hands to handle, disclosed that the ministry want to make sure that they have qualified and trained personnel that will manage it.

He, however, assured that they will start with training and retraining of personnel to ensure efficiency and quality service delivery.

Speaking on the 2024/25 season, Gusau assured that there would be a lot of improvements in the league, adding that referees will be wearing communication gadgets while officiating to provide a communication platform for referees and their assistants without going close to themselves.

“We are working on improving the league to international standard. We will soon introduce the VAR but we are concerned about training the personnel that will handle it first so that we won’t have any error while using VAR.

“From next week, you will see our referees starting to use communication gadgets. The referees will now communicate with themselves, they don’t need to go to AR to start asking them questions.

Gusau who attested that VAR requires a capable hands to handle, disclosed that the ministry want to make sure that they have qualified and trained personnel that will manage it.

He, however, assured that they will start with training and retraining of personnel to ensure efficiency and quality service delivery.

Speaking on the 2024/25 season, Gusau assured that there would be a lot of improvements in the league, adding that referees will be wearing communication gadgets while officiating to provide a communication platform for referees and their assistants without going close to themselves.

“We are working on improving the league to international standard. We will soon introduce the VAR but we are concerned about training the personnel that will handle it first so that we won’t have any error while using VAR.

“From next week, you will see our referees starting to use communication gadgets. The referees will now communicate with themselves, they don’t need to go to AR to start asking them questions.