Why NPFL Can't Use VAR Now - Davidson Owumi

Why NPFL Can't Use VAR Now - Davidson Owumi

By Niyi Busari

The Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Davidson Owumi has stated clearly that the League cannot afford the cost of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) equipment for now, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

VAR consists of match officials who help the center referee to make nearly perfect decisions during a game using film recorded at the game.

Davidson Owumi in an interview with Busayo Olowookere on Citizens Sports said that each VAR costs as much as ($300,000), Three hundred thousand US dollars an amount they can't afford at least for now.

"In all these we might need to have a second view and that is may be VAR but you know the cost of having one VAR is almost $300,000." Owumi said.

He added, "And so, it's not an easy thing to come by. We are moving towards a situation where we need to give the referees a second chance. But again, Nigerians should accept that these guys (referees) are human beings who are prone to human errors. Though some of the referees might be funny in their decisions but at times it is human error, at times it is deliberate and some times incompetence." He concluded.

Recently, about 14 match officials were suspended following their poor performance in the NPFL matches they handled this season.