NAIROBI, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Referee Aden Marwa will make history by becoming the first man from Kenya to officiate in a World Cup in Russia in June.
Marwa believes he will take the challenge in stride, a feat that will help him score more gigs at the top levels of the sport.
Speaking to Xinhua on Friday, Marwa waded in the controversy around the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the first time in a FIFA World Cup, saying he is happy they will get a third eye to help the referee and the linesman.
Marwa, who will be among the over 60 assistant referees in Russia, welcomed the new technology in football officiating saying that it will help make the right calls.
"VAR will slow down the game but I am happy that it will help us (human referee) make the right call and at the end, no one will feel aggrieved of our decision," said Marwa.
Different football governing bodies have come under attack over biased officiating, which prompted FIFA to seek innovation and technology to bridge the gap as is done with other sports like tennis and volleyball. But the expected delays, will take the adrenalin and fun out of the game, in what FIFA defended saying it will be for the 'right call'.
Top leagues in Italy, Spain and Germany have incorporated VAR with success and FIFA knows it cannot afford to get it wrong in Russia, especially with influences from betting firms to try and control the outcome of football matches.
But Marwa said the best antidote to biased officiating is to remain non-partisan as a referee. This is a move he chose by not playing football or having any specific club to follow as a fan.
"I chose to be a football referee and not a fan. That helps me in making the decision because am not buried in the game," he added.
Marwa made his first major appearance as a referee at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
FIFA has since appointed 16 match officials from Africa out of the 99 officials - 36 referees and 63 assistant referees - picked from 46 different countries. Africa has six referees and ten assistants. VAR will be chosen from this pool of 99 officials.
Between now and the World Cup in June, the selected referees, assistant referees and VARs will be monitored and supported by FIFA Refereeing on an individual basis to ensure they are fully prepared.
