Players in the NBC Tanzania Premier League have been warned against complacency as the introduction of the Football Video Support (FVS) system increases scrutiny of incidents that may previously have gone unnoticed by match officials.
The technology, introduced to support referees in reviewing controversial incidents, has already featured in disciplinary decisions involving Simba SC’s David Kameta, popularly known as ‘Duchu’, in a match against Kagera Sugar, Ibraheem Jabaar against Pamba Jiji and Azam FC goalkeeper Aishi Manula in a game against TRA United.
Former Taifa Stars player and goalkeeper Steven Nemes said the introduction of FVS should encourage players to exercise greater discipline and understand that misconduct can be reviewed even after the incident has occurred.
Speaking to The Respondent Online, Nemes said players can no longer afford to rely on the possibility that an incident may escape the referee’s attention.
“FVS is not a bad development, but players need to understand it and adjust accordingly. Referees must apply the laws of the game fairly. If it is a penalty, it should be awarded, and if it is a card, it should be issued, whether the player belongs to a big team or a small team,” Nemes said.
He praised the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and the Tanzania Premier League Board for introducing the system, saying it could help reduce disputes and controversy surrounding refereeing decisions.
However, Nemes cautioned that FVS should complement, rather than replace, the referee’s judgment.
“FVS should not make referees stop using their own judgment. It should be an additional tool used when necessary to help ensure that important decisions are correct,” he said.
Nemes said the system could also strengthen confidence in refereeing by ensuring that incidents involving players from high-profile clubs receive the same scrutiny as those involving less prominent teams.
He argued that the availability of video review could reduce the perception that referees sometimes hesitate to take disciplinary action against players from bigger clubs.
“If an incident can be reviewed, there is less room for hesitation or favouritism. The important thing is for the laws to be applied equally to everyone,” he said.
The former goalkeeper said the arrival of FVS should ultimately encourage a stronger culture of discipline across the league, with players expected to think carefully before committing offences that could result in penalties, yellow or red cards.
He added that the effectiveness of the system would depend not only on the technology itself, but also on how consistently referees apply the laws and how well players understand the new system.
As Tanzania’s top-flight football continues to embrace greater use of technology, FVS is likely to place increased emphasis on accountability, fair play and consistency in decision-making.
