This archive report was first published on 10 November 2019.
On November 9, 2019, a historic match took place at the Grand Stade de Tanger in Morocco, where TAS Casablanca defeated Difaa El Jadida 1-0 in the semi-finals of the Moroccan Throne Cup.
The match was notable for being the first domestic match in Africa to utilize the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, which was introduced to the continent during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
VAR awarded Casablanca a spot-kick in the 120th minute, after the referee missed the ball crossing the line, leading to the winning goal.
The use of VAR in the match was overseen by a committee from the International Football Federation Board (IFAB), which visited the Marrakech Stadium to assess the VAR set-up.
Morocco's Football Federation (FRMF) had announced the introduction of VAR technology in the semi-finals of the Moroccan Throne Cup, making the country the first in Africa to adopt the technology in domestic matches.
VAR has been gaining popularity globally, but its introduction in Africa has been met with controversy, particularly in the English Premier League.
