The long-awaited introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is finally coming to South African football, as confirmed by Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie.
This week, McKenzie announced that the South African Football Association (Safa) had officially issued a request for proposals regarding VAR services.
Minister McKenzie Announces Commitment to VAR Implementation
According to McKenzie, the government and football authorities are fully committed to ensuring that VAR is implemented in compliance with FIFA regulations.
“The money is available, and we’ve already budgeted for the necessary training for referees,” McKenzie explained.
This initiative is a collaboration between Safa and the Premier Soccer League (PSL), aimed at bringing greater fairness and accuracy to South African football.
Costs and Plans for VAR in South African Football
On Wednesday, McKenzie shared more details about the financial aspects of VAR’s introduction via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
He revealed that the one-time cost for implementing VAR would range between R70 million and R80 million, with an additional R70,000 per game for the ongoing costs.
McKenzie also emphasized that VAR would be administered through Safa, as stipulated by FIFA rules.
A public advertisement will soon be placed to find suitable service providers for the technology.
Concerns from Fans Over Effectiveness of VAR
Despite the excitement surrounding the announcement, some football fans have expressed skepticism about the impact of VAR on the quality of officiating in South Africa.
One fan, @ntukz7, voiced concerns about the delay in the rollout, noting, “I thought VAR was going to be ready in April, Gayton selling dreams.”
Another fan, @mouga_l, raised doubts about VAR’s ability to address the root of the problem, commenting, “We need competency from our match officials and better recourse processes instead of just depending on VAR.”
Looking Ahead: Will VAR Improve South African Football?
As the discussion continues, the question remains whether VAR will be implemented in the PSL next season as promised, and whether it will truly help solve the officiating issues that have plagued the league.
Fans are divided, with some hopeful for positive change and others wary of relying solely on technology to fix deeper problems within the sport.
