Facing a wave of protests from clubs, officials, and supporters, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has decided to counterattack. Its strategy? To combine rigorous statistics with modern technology.

During an official press briefing this Friday, May 22, Kalou Bonaventure (President of the Central Referees Commission) and Ettiegne Mian (National Director of Refereeing) firmly defended the local refereeing body, while announcing the imminent deployment of video assistance (VAR).

Accusations refuted by the numbers

To extinguish the firestorm of media controversy, the National Arbitration Directorate has chosen to let the facts speak for themselves. And according to the report presented by Ettiegne Mian, there is a huge gap between public perception and technical reality:

1. 964 matches played this season (Ligue 1, Ligue 2 and Division 3 combined).
2. Only 11 complaints officially filed by the clubs.
3. 0 complaints deemed valid after review by the relevant committees.

"None of the complaints were deemed to have merit," the National Director of Arbitration insisted.

Specifically, seven of these appeals concerned alleged technical errors in refereeing, while the others were simply requests to recuse officials. For the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), the conclusion is clear: the constant disputes have no solid technical basis.

VAR arrives on May 29th to restore calm.

While the federation defends its players, it is also aware that trust needs to be restored in a concrete way. This is where VAR (Video Assistant Referee) comes in.

Its baptism of fire is scheduled for May 29th, during the National Cup . Far from being a vague project, Ivory Coast is fully prepared to take this technological leap:

1. Trained men: More than 30 Ivorian referees are now VAR certified. "The training problem is now behind us," reassured Ettiegne Mian.
2. Approved equipment: The required equipment is already ready and validated.
3. A successful test: The technology had already been successfully tested during two matches of the 29th day of Ligue 1 last season.

What will VAR intervene in?

In accordance with international protocols, video review will not be used indiscriminately. It will focus solely on crucial situations that turn the tide of matches and fuel tensions:

1. Penalties
2. Offsides
3. Direct red cards
4. The errors in the identity of the sanctioned player

One more step towards credibility

Admittedly, the introduction of video replay won't magically eliminate all debates—the major European leagues are daily proof of that. However, for FIFA, it's an essential tool for injecting transparency and rigor into a world often rife with suspicion and passion.

By displaying a flattering financial statement and formalizing this technological revolution, the FIF sends a strong message: Ivorian refereeing is modernizing and giving itself the means to silence its detractors.