Senegalese wrestling ref gets VAR - 12th January 2024

Used in football, cricket, rugby and tennis, VAR - video assisted refereeing - has now made its debut in the centuries-old sport of Senegalese wrestling.

Known as La Lutte, Senegalese wrestling forms part of a cultural tradition that's practised across West Africa. In the Senegalese version, however, opponents are permitted to strike one another during the fight.

La Lutte champions are held in high regard and consequently, the referee responsible for conducting the match often finds himself in a delicate situation. It's not uncommon for displeased fans to actually become violent in the stadium.

VAR could be the solution that's needed, according to sports journalist Malal Junior Diagne.

Malal Junior Diagne: "It will enable wrestling to move past situations involving disputes during matches and unclear falls. It will allow these disputes to be settled in the arena itself."

The VAR set-up consists of three cameras, several practical experts and a VAR officer. Images recorded during the match are fed back to a hidden monitor, which either the VAR team or the actual referee can request to see.

President of the Wrestling Referees Sitor Ndour is confident it'll assist in decision making.

Sitor Ndour: "If there's a dispute, if there's a fall that leads to confusion, the referee of the bout can stop and come and ask for VAR, just as we, being in VAR, can ask the referee to come and review the images before he gives the decision. The aim is simply to get to the right decision."

For the sportsmen themselves, who have the potential to walk away with tens of thousands of euros, these decisions are crucial. Athlete Bombardier maintains VAR should be broadcast to the whole stadium.

Serigne Ousmane aka Bombardier: "VAR has to be displayed publicly so that the wrestlers can see what happened, but they put it on a small screen in the booth and that doesn't give the spectators or the wrestlers a clear view of what happened."

For the time being, the VAR system is only available in the national wrestling stadium, but it's hoped it can be extended across the entire country.