VAR to Feature Prominently at CHAN 2024: A First for Many Kenyan Football Fans
Upgrades include new playing surfaces, modernized changing rooms and washrooms, durable seating, and the installation of a canopy at Kasarani.
A referee using the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology during a past match. Photo: SportBeat KE.
By Robert Assad
For most Kenyan football enthusiasts, their only exposure to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system has come through televised European matches, where the technology is a staple in top-tier competitions.
However, the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Kenya is co-hosting, presents a unique opportunity for fans to experience VAR in action firsthand.
VAR is a technology-driven officiating tool introduced to enhance decision-making in football. It aims to assist referees by reviewing and rectifying “clear and obvious errors” or “serious missed incidents” in key game situations.
Operating under the principle of “minimal interference, maximum benefit,” VAR is designed to intervene only in critical moments to ensure fairness without disrupting the natural flow of the game.
VAR at CHAN 2024
As part of the preparations for CHAN 2024, VAR systems have been installed at both Nyayo Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. These systems include pitch-side monitors and a dedicated Video Operation Room (VOR) equipped with high-definition camera feeds, manned by a team comprising a lead VAR (a certified referee), Assistant VARs (AVARs), and a Replay Operator (RO).
This team operates as an additional layer of officiating, carefully monitoring the match in real time using multiple camera angles, including slow-motion and ultra-slow-motion replays.
The VAR team is authorized to intervene in four specific scenarios:
Goals – To review any infractions in the build-up, such as offside, fouls, or handballs.
Penalty Decisions – To determine whether a foul occurred inside or outside the box or if a penalty-worthy offence was missed.
Red Card Incidents – To assess serious foul play, violent conduct, or other red-card-worthy offences.
Mistaken Identity – To ensure the correct player is sanctioned in disciplinary actions.
Often, VAR checks are conducted silently without halting play. If no error is found, the team informs the referee with a simple “check complete.” However, if a potential error is identified, the referee may be advised to conduct an On-Field Review (OFR) at the monitor. In cases involving objective facts, such as offside or the location of a foul, the VAR team can directly recommend a decision change.
A Transformative Moment for Kenyan Football
Since its official inclusion in the Laws of the Game by IFAB on March 3, 2018, VAR has sparked both praise and criticism worldwide. Some argue it disrupts the game, while others see it as a much-needed advancement in ensuring fair play.
For Kenyan fans, CHAN 2024 will be a chance to engage with this transformative technology up close. Whether attending matches at Kasarani or Nyayo Stadium, supporters will witness the decision-making drama of VAR unfold live—an experience previously limited to televised matches from Europe’s elite leagues.
Stadium Upgrades and Matchday Experience
Beyond VAR, fans attending CHAN matches can also look forward to significantly improved stadium facilities. Both Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums have undergone extensive renovations to meet CAF and FIFA standards.
Upgrades include new playing surfaces, modernized changing rooms and washrooms, durable seating, and the installation of a canopy at Kasarani.
These enhancements aim to deliver a comfortable and world-class experience for both fans and players.
Tournament Overview
CHAN 2024 will officially kick off on Saturday, August 2, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with the final scheduled for Saturday, August 30, at Kasarani in Nairobi. Kenya’s national team, the Harambee Stars, will open their campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, August 3, in what is expected to be a thrilling match at a sold-out Kasarani Stadium.
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