Former Chelsea and Roma coach, Jose Mourinho, has praised the officiating standards at the ongoing African Cup of Nations, AFCON.
The Portuguese strategist, acknowledging his preference for watching the African tournament over European football, emphasized the need for Europe to adopt Africa’s integrity in officiating, particularly in the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Mourinho highlighted the impartiality of VAR decisions at AFCON, asserting that they are not influenced to favor wealthy or renowned teams. He went on to suggest that the VAR headquarters should be located in Africa.
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“I have been following AFCON more closely than European football. They are setting an example for us in terms of honesty. In AFCON, VAR is utilized exactly as it should be,” Mourinho stated, according to CFC News Report.
He praised the fairness of VAR use in AFCON, where it does not cater to the interests of high-profile teams. Mourinho observed that this approach brought out the best from every team, as they recognized VAR was equally accessible to everyone. He noted the contrast in Europe, where coaches or players pleading with referees to review a decision could result in a red card.
Mourinho concluded by suggesting that the VAR headquarters should be established within the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The report from Torizone indicated that the African Cup of Nations would conclude with the Super Eagles of Nigeria facing the hosts, Cote D’Ivoire, in the final.