Should the Confederation of African Football (CAF) rethink their decision to use VAR in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations to avoid any further embarrassment? Fans are now urging CAF to forget their decision to introduce the use of video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the 2019 AFCON.
More Doubts about VAR escalated after it failed to work during the CAF Champions League Final which led to Esperance winning in Tunisia on Saturday after Wydad Casablanca refused to continue playing on 60 minutes.
Tunisian media reported that officials were aware before the match that the VAR (video assistant referee) system was not working, but the players seemingly did not know.
It is the first time in the 55-year history of the elite African club competition that a match in the home-and-away final series has not been completed.CAF later ordered Esperance to return the medals and decided that the final will be played again after AFCON on a neutral ground.
At one stage, CAF president Ahmad Ahmad and the bosses of Esperance and Wydad spoke on the side of the pitch without succeeding in getting the match restarted.
Now fans are left with more worries that maybe the same will happen in the 32nd AFCON edition. VAR will only be used in the last eight matches. There was widespread criticism of the debacle on social media with many tweets saying that calling off the club showpiece brought shame to African football.
REMINDER
Only 8 matches at the AFCON will use VAR:
4 quarters
2 semis
3rd place and
The final.But CAF officials will be done training on 13 June.
Afcon starts 21 June!!! pic.twitter.com/IF4GRGXTjy
— Gary #JoySports (@garyalsmith) June 1, 2019
I think CAF can still rethink their decision to use VAR in the upcoming AFCON to avoid any further embarrassment #CAFCLFinal pic.twitter.com/wKSxz8IKUI
— Nduduzo Ndlovu (@Ndurasm) June 1, 2019
The Egyptian referee of that match was subsequently banned for six months with CAF saying his performance was “poor”.
Apparently VAR wasn’t working from the start of the game. Poor preparation from CAF for the #CAFCLFinal. #AFCON is a few days away, I’m sure we’d see more of this during that tournament.
— ™️💯 (@officialtiipc) May 31, 2019
to think CAF is ready to put into use, the VAR in the coming AFCON competition. I'm in Sifia pain😫😓😭 https://t.co/vZ8ZC4nCED
— Oye Ola Oladimeji (@OfficialOye_Ola) June 5, 2019
If VAR continues like this in Africa,AFCON is going to be a mess too.
— Rapelang Motloung (@ZeroJr_12) May 31, 2019
CAF is a joke, I won't surprised if VAR malfunction in the 2019 AFCON finals
— LEONARD NEMUKULA (@LEORNY3) June 5, 2019
In Africa VAR fails only when it is supposed to be used!#CAFCLFinal #ESTWAC #الترجى_الوداد pic.twitter.com/CI2OJzDvkT
— Khaled 🇵🇸 (@kalid796) June 1, 2019
If CAF is smart they must just cancel VAR for AFCON or there will be chaos.
— Just Prince⚽⚽ (@PrinceSobayeni) June 1, 2019
Fasten your seat belt for the VAR drama during 2019 AFCON https://t.co/iH2rfSS1fZ
— Dumnodi Okonta (@mitchokonta) May 31, 2019