Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has asked the South African Football Association (SAFA) for an update on plans to introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, after a controversial decision in the recent Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns match refuelled long-standing arguments about match officiating.
Incident reignites national argument
Television replays of the fixture showed a Chiefs player winning the ball before making contact on a Sundowns player with his follow-through. The decision on the field immediately sparked debate among supporters and pundits about whether VAR would have altered the outcome or the punishment handed down.
The VAR discussion has lingered in South African football for several years. Promises and timelines have repeatedly been floated, but the system remains absent from the Betway Premiership. Dr Irvin Khoza, chairman of the Premier Soccer League, has previously said the league is waiting for SAFA to provide clarity on implementation.
Funding, readiness or coordination?
One of the recurring questions is finance. The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has said government provided funding to assist SAFA with the project, and SAFA confirmed receipt of that funding. If money is not the sole obstacle, attention has turned to technical, operational and administrative barriers.
- Whether technology and broadcast infrastructure are ready to support VAR;
- Whether referees and officials have received sufficient training;
- Whether stadiums and communications systems meet technical requirements;
- Possible gaps in coordination between SAFA, the PSL and government stakeholders.
Despite the reported funding, SAFA’s referees department has stated that VAR will not be available for the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season, saying more work is required. That declaration has sharpened focus on what exactly remains unfinished.
What SAFA must answer
The minister’s request for an update forces SAFA to set out concrete details: what technical or administrative tasks remain; a realistic timetable for testing and rollout; the scale of further investment, if any; and how referees will be prepared for the new system. The league and supporters, meanwhile, want certainty that high-profile matches will not again be clouded by contentious calls that VAR could have reviewed.
The issue is not only about correcting clear errors. It also touches on the perception of fairness, confidence in officiating and the commercial promise of South African football. Implementing VAR involves broadcasters, match officials, stadium operations and the game’s governing bodies — all of whom must synchronise for the system to work in real time.
| Stakeholder | Role | Current status (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Sports, Arts and Culture | Provided funding support | Funding provided |
| SAFA | National association responsible for implementation | Received funding; referees dept says VAR not ready for 2026/27 |
| Premier Soccer League (PSL) | League operator awaiting clarity | Waiting on SAFA |
For supporters and clubs, the practical question is simple: when will VAR be following the ball into the box in the Premiership? For administrators, the work is more granular and complex — data links, trained video match officials, live broadcast feeds, contingency procedures and agreed protocols all need to be in place.
As the season approaches, supporters will watch closely for a response from SAFA. The minister’s letter is likely to prompt a public account of remaining steps and a timeline or, at minimum, an explanation for continued delay. Until then, contentious decisions on the field will continue to fuel debate and frustration.
For football in South Africa, VAR is more than a piece of technology. It is a test of the game’s governance and the ability of stakeholders to deliver on promises that affect the integrity of competition.
