Morocco's Thrones Cup Mark the First Tournament In Africa to Officially Use VAR

Morocco have become the first African nation to introduce the technology driven Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in their domestic football league.

Faouzi Lakjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), declared in February that VAR technology will be introduced in the Moroccan football league starting next season.

“Referees will also be trained for the task ahead”, the Moroccan FA boss said.

The VAR technology will be implemented to avoid referees mistakes similar to those during the 2018 FIFA World Cup”, he added.

The North African country’s Football Federation on Friday confirmed that International Football Associations Board, IFAB, had granted their request for the introduction of VAR in their local football.

Following Morocco’s request for the use of VAR, the FA made elaborate preparation for the use of VAR, which included training programs for 110 referees on the use and application of the technology in the game.

The VAR training sessions were held at the Mohammed VI Conference Palace in Skhirat near Rabat in September.

On Saturday, the Thrones Cup semifinal match in Tangier between Ittihad Athletic Sports Casablanca and El Jadidas Difaa El Hassani marked the official use of VAR in Morocco.

Casablanca won the tie 1-0, courtesy of a 120-minute penalty awarded by VAR that decided the game.

The second semifinal game in Marrakech between Hassania Agadir and Maghreb Athletic Tetouan on Sunday witnessed the use of Video Assistant Referee.

Before Sunday’s game in Marrakech, it was understood that IFAB committee last week visited Morocco to take a look at the VAR setup in Marrakech.