NPFL prioritizes VAR over goal-line technology
- Adaramola Yemiblak
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced its strategic decision to prioritize the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology over goal line technology as part of an ongoing effort to improve officiating standards and match integrity across Nigeria's top flight league.
This was disclosed by Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the NPFL, Davidson Owumi, said the decision is part of the league’s long-term development plans.
According to Owumi, the broader functionality of VAR makes it a more impactful investment at this stage of the NPFL’s evolution, as it covers many aspects of the game than the goal line technology.
“Goal line technology only monitors scoring situations, while VAR assists in multiple aspects of the game including offsides, penalties, and red card decisions,”
The COO of the NPFL added that even though both technologies may seem out of reach, the aim is to get VAR first.
“So we are prioritising VAR over goal line technology, even though both remain out of reach at the moment.”
The NPFL implementation of VAR is seen as a significant step towards bringing the league up to global standards, as both technologies are widely used in top-tier European and international football competitions.
Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to innovation and improvement, the NPFL has also officially announced the kickoff date for the 2025/2026 season. The league is set to start on August 22, 2025, and will conclude on May 24, 2026.
