On March 9, 2025, one of the most anticipated matches in Rwanda’s Premier League will take place between two of the country's most successful football clubs: APR FC and Rayon Sports. The match, set to be played at Stade Amahoro in Kigali, promises to be an exciting and intense clash between the two teams that have a rich history and passionate fan bases. However, one surprising aspect of this fixture is that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will not be used. VAR has not been implemented in the first 19 matches of the Rwanda Premier League 2024/2025 season, and it will not be used in t
On March 9, 2025, one of the most anticipated matches in Rwanda’s Premier League will take place between two of the country's most successful football clubs: APR FC and Rayon Sports. The match, set to be played at Stade Amahoro in Kigali, promises to be an exciting and intense clash between the two teams that have a rich history and passionate fan bases. However, one surprising aspect of this fixture is that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will not be used. VAR has not been implemented in the first 19 matches of the Rwanda Premier League 2024/2025 season, and it will not be used in the March 9 encounter. The reason for this is that the use of VAR in a competition requires its consistent application across all matches of the league. Currently, the Rwanda Premier League has not introduced VAR as a regular feature in its matches, despite the system being endorsed by FIFA and IFAB for use in top-tier competitions globally. While FIFA and IFAB recommend the use of VAR in all matches of a competition to ensure fairness and transparency, Rwanda's top-tier football league has yet to implement this technology across the board. The main obstacle lies in the resources and infrastructure required to effectively implement VAR at the level of the entire league. Despite the absence of VAR, the referees assigned to the APR FC vs. Rayon Sports match will continue to follow the traditional officiating process, relying on their judgment and the standard refereeing procedures. This means that decisions will be made based on what the referees observe on the field, without the assistance of video technology to review or correct decisions in real-time. Fans and players alike will need to accept the referee’s decisions, even though there will be no additional technological support to review contentious moments during the game. The absence of VAR in the Rwanda Premier League highlights the ongoing challenges in adopting advanced technologies in domestic football. While VAR has proven beneficial in improving decision-making in major leagues worldwide, it is still a long way from being fully operational in Rwanda’s top-flight competition. The hope remains that with time and increased investment, VAR will become a staple in the league, enhancing the fairness and integrity of the game. For the upcoming March 9 match between APR FC and Rayon Sports, supporters are urged to focus on the action on the field and trust in the expertise of the referees. While VAR may not be present in this fixture, the game itself promises to be a thrilling encounter as these two giants of Rwandan football battle for supremacy. As the season progresses, it is expected that further steps will be taken toward the adoption of VAR in Rwandan football, ensuring that the technology can be deployed uniformly across the competition. However, for now, the March 9 match will remain a traditional contest, with the focus on the skills and strategies of the players, rather than the intervention of technology.
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