Football authorities expand VAR usage in Africa and Brazil

Football governing bodies in Africa and Brazil are expanding the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to improve officiating integrity in major competitions.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering implementing VAR starting from the group stages of its continental tournaments, such as the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. Currently, the technology is only utilized from the quarter-finals onwards. This potential shift for the 2026-2027 season follows preparatory work by the referees' committee and video technology management team.

In Brazil, the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) has confirmed that VAR will be used in all 24 matches of the second phase of the Série C championship. This decision aims to minimize errors regarding goals, penalties, and red cards during the decisive quadrangular final, where teams compete for promotion to Série B. The technical protocols for these matches will match those used in the top two Brazilian divisions.