Controversy Surrounds Refereeing in Tunisian Football
Once again, refereeing is at the center of a heated controversy, with the Tunisian VAR system being particularly criticized. The equalizing goal scored by CA against CSS has sparked debate among fans, with some claiming it was a clear offside by Chaouat, while others disagree.
The consultants have also failed to provide a clear verdict, with opposing opinions on the same action. CSS has gone further, alleging that Heythem Guirat, the VAR referee for the match, deliberately validated the goal despite seeing the VAR footage, and is now demanding the release of the VAR recordings.
The controversy has been ongoing since Sunday evening, and as usual, the head of referees, Jamel Himoudi, has intervened to fuel the debate. However, a key detail has been overlooked: Himoudi rarely intervenes directly in VAR-related controversies. His interventions are sparse, and it is unclear why he chooses to speak out on certain issues while remaining silent on others.
It is worth noting that last season, Himoudi appeared on a TV show to defend a favored club that had lost on the field, claiming that the VAR and referee had wronged them. This behavior is unusual for a head of referees, as it is not common for them to take sides in such a public manner.
This season has seen numerous suspicious episodes, including penalties and goals validated or rejected by the VAR, but Himoudi's mobilization and public statements have been conspicuous by their absence. This lack of consistency raises questions about his objectivity and neutrality, particularly given his own history of controversy as an international referee.
The truth is that the Tunisian VAR system is contested because it is poorly applied. VAR referees take too long to make decisions, TV producers manipulate certain footage and refuse to show the images as they are, and the equipment used is not of the best quality. Furthermore, Tunisian referees lack the personality and authority to minimize errors on the VAR.
The most serious issue is that the VAR system seems to turn a blind eye to certain actions while focusing on others, leading to a perception that some clubs are always favored while others are always wronged. Meanwhile, Himoudi fails to take concrete steps to improve the level of his referees, instead relying on former referees with questionable pasts to defend his position and that of certain clubs.
Himoudi is not the person to put an end to refereeing controversies. The problem lies not with the VAR system itself, but with its management, the profile of his collaborators, and the performance of his referees. It is time for the FTF to restore order and bring in honest and competent former referees to take charge of the refereeing dossier. With only 10 matchdays left in the season, the situation is already tense and alarming; it is hard to imagine what will happen when the title and relegation are at stake.
Read also: Arbitrage: les enregistrements VAR du match CSS–Club Africain rendus publics (vidéo)
