Ligue 1 Mobilis begins the 2025-2026 season with a major transformation: Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be used in all 240 championship matches. This widespread use, officially announced by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), represents a historic advance for professional Algerian football, with a primary goal of increasing transparency and fairness in refereeing decisions.
Following a pilot phase during the 2024-2025 season, where VAR was deployed in a limited selection of matches including the Algerian Cup quarter-finals and some Ligue 1 games like ES Sétif – MC El Bayadh, the FAF has finalized an ambitious plan to generalize this technology. The recent acquisition of four fully equipped VAR vans, along with intensive training of a team of Algerian operators supervised by international experts, now ensures complete technical and operational mastery of the system in all compliant stadiums.
The VAR implementation was carefully prepared, including a collaborative workshop between FAF and FIFA, and the training of over twenty technicians to guarantee optimal and reliable use of the system. This innovation is part of a broader strategic framework aimed at modernizing Ligue 1 Mobilis, alongside a renewed ambition from clubs such as ES Ben Aknoun, recently promoted and determined to establish themselves sustainably in the Algerian top flight.
The full integration of VAR brings the Algerian championship closer to international refereeing standards by reducing human errors and strengthening the trust of clubs, players, and supporters in sporting justice. Thus, the 2025-2026 season is set to be a crucial milestone in enhancing the attractiveness, credibility, and competitiveness of Algerian football at continental and global levels.