The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will not
deploy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) or Goal-Line Technology in the upcoming
2025/26 season, due to financial constraints.
This was confirmed on Friday during a press briefing
in Abuja by NPFL Chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye and Chief Operating Officer
(COO) Davidson Owumi.
Addressing the media, Elegbeleye explained that the
prohibitive cost of acquiring and maintaining VAR infrastructure is the primary
reason for the decision.
“The cost of installing VAR is very high, and to be
honest, the NPFL currently cannot afford such an investment,” he stated.
“However, we are actively exploring sponsorship opportunities to cover the full
cost in the future.”
On the possibility of introducing Goal-Line Technology
as an alternative, COO Davidson Owumi clarified that the league is focused
solely on VAR implementation, which provides broader coverage and
decision-making support.
“Goal-Line Technology only monitors scoring
situations, while VAR assists with multiple aspects of the game including
offsides, penalties, and red card decisions,” Owumi noted. “So we are
prioritizing VAR over Goal-Line Technology, even though both remain out of
reach at the moment.”
Despite the absence of these advanced officiating
tools, the NPFL leadership reaffirmed its commitment to improving officiating
standards through training and the use of broadcast replays where applicable.
Meanwhile, the 2025/26 NPFL season is scheduled to
kick off on August 22, 2025, and conclude on May 24, 2026, in alignment with
international league calendars.
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