Sports minister Gayton McKenzie has met with SAFA president Danny Jordaan and PSL chairman Irvin Khoza to discuss the VAR question for South African football. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers
Sports minister Gayton McKenzie says “great work” is being done behind the scenes by officials at the SA Football Association and at the Premier Soccer League to ensure the swift rollout of the VAR (video assistant referee) technology to South Africa.
Earlier this week, McKenzie demanded an urgent meeting with both sporting bodies after calls for VAR grew following what appeared to be officiating mistakes in Saturday’s Betway Premiership clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Sundowns secured the win with a questionable goal, initially thought to be offside, while Chiefs were also denied an injury time equaliser after the referee blew for a foul.
On Friday, McKenzie met with SAFA president Danny Jordaan and PSL chairman Irvin Khoza had gone well, and added he has also been in touch with officials from England’s Premier League.
“Great work has been done by both SAFA & PSL in making VAR a possibility. We spoke to both Dr Danny Jordaan & Dr Khoza, I went through the presentation & finance required, I was also contacted by the team that brought VAR to the English Premier league.
“We will soon report in detail,” the minister wrote on X.
Great work has been done by both SAFA & PSL in making VAR a possibility. We spoke to both Dr Danny Jordaan & Dr Khoza,I went through the presentation & finance required, i was also contacted by the team that brought VAR to the English Premier league. We will soon report in detail
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) October 4, 2024
During the game last weekend, Sundowns took the lead and scored the decisive goal after officials failed to flag Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro offside, with the move leading to Iqraam Rayners scoring the match-winner.
And in the dying minutes, Kaizer Chiefs were denied an equalising goal after Ignacio Miguel appeared to push an opponent before putting the ball in the back of the net.
Both decisions were later shown to have been correct, but the wheels had already been set in motion as McKenzie called for talks with SAFA and the PSL.
“All football loving fans know that the time for VAR has arrived in SA football,” McKenzie wrote on X after the game at a sold out FNB Stadium.
“We need VAR & we need it now, those meetings start now because we are not a 10th world country. I shall report back soonest after meeting SAFA & the PSL this week.”
𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗙𝗦 𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗘
— Sahil Ebrahim (@sahil_e_) September 28, 2024
Kaizer Chiefs score but the referees adjudge that there is a foul in the box.
Score remains as is and the missiles are raining down on the assistant referees!
Kaizer Chiefs 1-2 Mamelodi Sundowns pic.twitter.com/8S1xpDkyLg
Last month, IOL Sport reported that while talks have been held between SAFA and the PSL, nothing concrete has happened.
One of the things thought to be holding up its implementation is money.
According to reports, it would cost around R1.2 million and R1.5 million to train 16 to 20 officials.
On top of that, there’s the cost-per-season to use the technology. Morocco and Egypt are reportedly paying up to R23 million a season for VAR.
IOL Sport