The game of Soccer being the most popular sports have continued to evolve in recent times, and the football governing body FIFA is not relenting in opening their door for new developments that will enhance the sports.

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In a game which have witnessed lots of clamour for transparency and fairness by football analysts and enthusiasts from all over the world, the governing body have taken steps to ensure that some of the lapses and shortcomings experienced during matches especially by referees are Curbed to a reasonable extent.

By introducing technological aids in officiating, the center referees can always resort to the computer or machine for clearer picture of what transpired on the pitch before handing his sanctions or decisions. With stuffs like The Goal line technology and VAR(Video Assistant Referee) in football, there have been a level of fairness and transparency now in football, hence, the referee can always have a recourse to VAR before making decisions or changing his decisions if it was made in error.

Well, initially, I wasn't a fan of VAR because of the intermittent disruption of the flow of a game, and before the game re-starts, it's as if the the players have lost some vibes and will have to restart their engine again. However, with time have come to see it's immense importance and how it has help the referees reach better decisions.

Something That Is Unclear To Me About The VAR System

First, In a tournament where VAR system is supposed to be used and the players are playing with the consciousness of fairness and transparency that comes with the VAR system, will the center referee be right to disregard the VAR system in a situation where it's glaring that he needs the aid of the Video Assistant Referee?

Also, Can a referee go ahead with a match that VAR was supposed to be used in the system malfunctions or experiences problem during the game?

Why My Sudden Curiosity?

Well, just yesterday or thereabout during the CAF champions league final between Esperance of Tunisia and Wydad Casablanca, a disturbing drama occurred which leaves an ignominious mark on the organizers of the competition or the African Football Body.

The game which took place at the Stade Olympique de Rades was going prettt well until the unforseen scene struck. At the 58th minute, Walid EL Karti, a Wydad Casablanca midfielder's effort was ruled out by the Gambian center referee. A decision which attracted a protracted protest from Wydad Casablanca players requesting the referee to use VAR and review his decision.

This was followed by the protesting team walking away from the pitch and refusing to continue with the game except the referee used VAR to review his decision. After like an hour of trying to persuade the Wydad team to return to the pitch, even by the CAF President himself, who tried to explain to them that VAR could not be used due to technical issues with the system.

With Wydad Casablanca's continuous refusal, Gassama the referee declared Esperance of Tunisia the winner of CAF champions league, and the game ended 2-1 on aggregate, as Esperance grabbed their fourth CAF champions league trophy.

So 'am tempted to ask, was it fair for CAF to follow the referee's decision, or should they have taken responsibility of their Organizational Lapses and refix the game?