Tanzania Premier League to introduce Video Support System next season, says TFF president Wallace Karia

Tanzania is set to make African football history by becoming the first country on the continent to introduce the Video Support (VS) system in its top-flight league, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President Wallace Karia has confirmed.

The technology, which will be implemented in the Tanzanian Premier League from next season, is aimed at improving refereeing standards and helping match officials make more accurate decisions during key moments of games.

Karia revealed that the introduction of Video Support forms part of efforts by the TFF to modernise the league and adopt technology that can assist referees without the high costs associated with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

Unlike VAR, where a team of video officials continuously monitor matches and communicate with the referee when potential errors occur, Video Support places the responsibility on the match referee to request a review when they believe a decision requires further examination.

Under the VS system, referees will be able to consult video footage on a pitch-side screen before making a final decision on important incidents.

The technology is designed to assist officials in reviewing situations such as disputed goals, penalty decisions, red card incidents and cases of mistaken identity.

However, the system differs from VAR because there are no dedicated video assistant referees constantly checking every incident. Instead, the referee remains the central decision-maker and chooses when a review is necessary.

The move makes Tanzania the first African nation to adopt Video Support, a simpler and more affordable alternative to VAR, which has been difficult for many leagues across the continent to implement due to financial and logistical challenges.

The introduction of VS is expected to enhance fairness in the Tanzanian Premier League while providing referees with additional support in handling crucial match situations.

Tanzania’s decision could also serve as a model for other African football associations seeking to improve officiating standards through technology without the significant investment required for a full VAR system.