PSL advised to introduce VAR only when full technology is available

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has been advised that it should consider introducing video assistant referees (VAR), but only once the competition has the technology and infrastructure required to operate the system properly.

VAR remains absent from the PSL, despite the league being one of the more established competitions on the African continent. The technology continues to divide opinion, with controversial decisions in competitions where it is already in use prompting questions about whether it consistently provides the clarity expected of it.

The latest debate followed last weekend’s Manchester derby, when Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scored the winning goal after a VAR review overturned an initial offside decision.

Kosta Konig, a journalist at Tribuna, told KickOff that VAR could be valuable in leagues such as the PSL if the necessary equipment is in place.

“I would recommend any league in any country to start using VAR as long as all the necessary tools are there,” Konig said.

He pointed to an incident involving FC Barcelona in El Clasico as an example of what can happen when the system lacks the appropriate technology.

“A couple of years ago, FC Barcelona’s goal in El Clasico wasn’t approved by VAR as they weren’t convinced it fully crossed the line. After a while, it was revealed that they didn’t have a necessary camera angle to make the right decision, which is just shocking to me,” he said.

“If you feel situations like these could happen in your domestic league if they introduce VAR, then wait until you have all the required technology to use VAR properly.”

Konig said the system, when correctly implemented, should be regarded as a necessary part of modern football rather than an avoidable expense.

“In general, however, properly-working VAR surely isn’t a waste of money, that’s the right and logical direction modern football has already headed in, and it should also be universal,” he added.

‘The problem is how it’s being used’

Konig believes criticism should focus less on VAR itself and more on the way match officials apply the technology during games.

“VAR remains important at all times. The problem, as usual, is not in the VAR existence, but in the way it’s being used. It’s crazy that it’s been part of the game for many years already, and yet we still encounter errors referees apologise for later, that’s ridiculous,” he explained.

“Like, you have everything you need to make the right decision, you are not under pressure to deliver a hasty verdict, take your time but do your job properly. And yet for some reason, many officials, no matter what the league is, don’t do it.”

He argued that removing VAR would reverse progress made in reducing incorrect decisions, although he acknowledged that its current operation remains flawed.

“Scrapping VAR would be a massive step backwards. Thanks to VAR, many wrong decisions were cancelled or overturned over the past years,” Konig said.

“However, it should work perfectly by now, and there’s no excuse for so many mistakes being made in the Premier League, La Liga and other big leagues.”