The influence of the video assistant referee on the Africa cup of nations football tournaments

This study explored how the implementation of VAR has affected gameplay and referees’ performance during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournaments. The sample comprised all 84 matches played during the AFCON competitions before and after the introduction of the VAR system. The following match variables were recorded: goals, penalties, offsides, fouls, yellow cards, red cards, first-half playing time, second-half playing time, and total playing time. Data were collected from the “Whoscored” website ( https://www.whoscored.com ). The Mann–Whitney U test and a generalised linear model were used to examine match performance variables before and after the introduction of the VAR. The results indicated significant ( p < 0.001) decreases in the number of offsides and fouls after the introduction of VAR. The implementation of VAR resulted in significant ( p < 0.001) increases in both first-half, second-half playing time, and total playing time. The current findings may have useful ramifications for coaches, players, and sports federations seeking to better comprehend the impacts of VAR in Africa and assist referees in maximising their performance.