VAR to be used in CAF Champions League final for first time
2nd November 2018
Video assistant referees (VAR) will be used in the CAF Champions League final for the first time tonight when Al Ahly of Egypt host Esperance of Tunisia in the first leg.
The system 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.
VAR has been used once before 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 use at the World Cup in Russia this year 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. CAF is determined to use the latest innovative technologies available."
Ahly and Esperance go into the two-leg title decider -- the second leg is on November 9 in Tunisia -- knowing a great deal about each other having also met in the group stage.
Apart from a $2.5 million prize, the African champions qualify for the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, which guarantees at least another $1 million.