CAF has announced that the Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be deployed in the Champions League final for the first time when Al Ahly of Egypt host Esperance of Tunisia in the first leg.
VAR allows off-field referees to assist match officials regarding goals, penalty and straight red card decisions, and mistaken identity when awarding red and yellow cards.
The system was once used in Africa, for the 2018 CAF Super Cup match between Wydad Casablanca of Morocco and TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While VAR has been both lauded and loathed by footballers and officials, its inaugural use at the Russia 2018 World Cup was considered “largely successful” by FIFA.
“We used it for the Super Cup last February without any hitches and are delighted to go a step further,” CAF general secretary Amr Fahmy said.
This is another historic moment for African football coming from CAF who is determined to use the latest innovative technologies available.
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 years ago
