VAR SYSTEM TO BE INTRODUCED IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS FOOTBALL
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis – The St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) Referee Department is proud to announce the launch of several new initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of refereeing and match officiating in domestic football. These initiatives were recently outlined by the Head of the SKNFA Referee Department, Graeme Browne, at a press conference held at the NBGC Technical Center.
In his address, Mr. Browne emphasized that the SKNFA is committed to addressing concerns voiced by local clubs regarding officiating standards. He confirmed that the association is actively working to ensure that refereeing continues to evolve and improve to meet international standards. A key development in this initiative is the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to further support decision-making on the field.
“For the first time in the history of St Kitts and Nevis we have a FIFA certified video match official in the person of Mr Tristley Bassue. This comes at a great time for us because as you know the clubs that are very important to this league have been complaining that they need VAR in our leagues and the (SKNFA) president gave the clearance and we had our initial meeting last year which gave us the approval to continue and proceed. So with Mr Bassue being a certified video match official, then we can move to the next step of getting a VAR system implemented in St Kitts and Nevis in the very near future,” Browne said.
Mr. Browne spoke to other initiatives designed to improve the professionalism of officiating. “We had some series of meetings in the offseason which was very short for us and we’ve pledged our commitment to be more professional in our servicing of the games here in St Kitts and Nevis. Our leagues have started, our training have started; we are in Warner Park every day with our fitness instructors are going through rigorous training because this year we intend to up our standard in officiating here in St Kitts and Nevis,” he continued.
“As a federation, we are focused on improving the quality of refereeing and providing our officials with the tools they need to make accurate and fair decisions during matches,” Mr. Browne stated. “We have heard the concerns of the clubs, and we are taking concrete steps to enhance the overall officiating experience for both players and spectators.”
In addition to the introduction of VAR, the SKNFA continues to invest in the professional development of its referees. Two local referees, Jodi Walters and Yusuf Saunders, recently represented St. Kitts and Nevis at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Next Generation Course held in Barbados in January. Mr. Browne encouraged individuals interested in pursuing a career in refereeing to seize the opportunity and get involved with the program.
To kickstart the new year, the SKNFA will host its annual pre-season seminar for referees on February 1st and 2nd at the NBGC Technical Center. This two-day seminar is designed to provide valuable training and updates to officials as they prepare for the upcoming season.
“We are committed to providing our referees with ongoing training and development, ensuring that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in their roles,” Mr. Browne added.
The SKNFA Referee Department invites anyone interested in becoming a referee to join the program and contribute to the growth and success of football in St. Kitts and Nevis. “We will start our recruitment campaign very soon. We know we are in the middle of our sports term but we are still going out because as you know…the female league will be kicking off thereafter in short order so we are welcoming recruitments for all referees, male and female of all ages.”
