Referee Salma Mukansanga, a listed international referee for FIFA since 2012, has become the first Rwandan Video Assistant Referee (VAR). The video assistant referee (VAR) is a match official in association football who assists the referee by reviewing decisions using video footage and providing advice to the referee based on those reviews. Mukansanga is among 17 Rwandan referees, including 11 men and six women, placed on the 2024 international lists approved by the world football governing body (FIFA). READ ALSO: Rwanda's Mukansanga makes her World Cup debut Besides VAR, she is also among two women holding a FIFA centre referee badge alongside Aline Umutoni. Other Rwandan centre referees who feature on the list include Samuel Uwikunda, Jean Claude Ishimwe, Abdoul Karim Twagirumukiza, Patience Fidele Rurisa, and Nsoro Ruzindana. The list also features 10 assistant referees of whom six are men while four are women. They include Dieudonne Mutuyimana, Justin Karangwa, Didier Ishimwe, Eric Mugabo, Said Khamis Ndayisaba, Raymond Bwiliza, Alice Umutesi, Sandrine Murangwa Usenga, Regine Mukayiranga and Juliette Akimana Akimana is the newcomer on the list, replacing Speciose Nyinawabari who recently retired from refereeing. She currently serves as fitness instructor and match commissioner.
