The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is set to hold a key meeting with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and other officials to discuss the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology into Ghana’s domestic football leagues.
Scheduled for October 31 and November 1, 2024, the two-day meeting will take place in Accra, with FIFA’s full VAR project team in attendance.
Known as the “VAR kick-off meeting,” this gathering is a pivotal part of FIFA’s Implementation Assessment Approval Program (IAAP), which all Member Associations (MAs) must complete to adopt VAR technology.
Throughout the meeting, FIFA and GFA representatives will review every aspect of the VAR project and assess the requirements needed to roll it out successfully. Upon FIFA’s approval, this meeting will initiate the official VAR implementation process for Ghana’s leagues.
The FIFA team, including experts Inokuchi Takaaki and Michael Bailey, will arrive in Ghana on October 30, 2024. They will provide guidance on the technology and processes involved with VAR.
Representing the GFA, General Secretary Prosper Harisson Addo (Esq.) will lead a team comprising high-ranking officials, including Alex Kotey (Head of Referees and VAR Team Leader), Emmanuel Aglago (VAR Instructor), Marian Mensah (Head of Legal Affairs), Francis Adu (Head of IT), Julius Emunah (Head of Competitions), Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe (Head of PR and Strategy), and Christine Ziga (Chairperson of the Referees Committee).
FIFA requires the VAR Project Leader, main Venue Media Officer, and referee instructor to attend to ensure that all stakeholders are well-prepared for the technical and logistical needs of implementing VAR.
The GFA’s move to introduce VAR demonstrates its commitment to enhancing officiating standards and aligning with global practices. This meeting is expected to lay the groundwork for successfully integrating VAR technology into Ghanaian football.