Bringing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to South African football will cost more than R50 million, Safa chief executive Lydia Monyepao said. The R20 million the association received is only enough for the first year.
Monyepao spoke at a joint media briefing hosted by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and Safa. The briefing took place at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Pretoria.
“The budget that we submitted to DSAC was a three-year budget,” Monyepao said. “The first budget was R20 million … but the total budget was R50 million.”
Safa had to explain to the department why VAR has not yet been introduced, even though the funding was paid. Monyepao said the R20 million has not been touched.
The money was deposited in April. Since then it has earned about R500,000 in interest, she said.
According to Monyepao, Safa still has to meet several important rules before it can start a pilot project. She set out a three-year plan for bringing in VAR and explained what the first two years would focus on.
“The first year was mainly for the procurement of VAR equipment, including mobile broadcast vehicles, insurance, and connectivity,” she said.
“The second year was focused on training the referees, but when we noticed that Cosafa was already ahead, we consulted with them,” Monyepao added.
The R50 million figure only covers costs that Safa will carry itself. The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has not yet worked out what VAR will cost it to run on match days.
“I have to add a disclaimer to the R50 million figure and state that the PSL has not had a say in this,” Monyepao said. “We don’t know yet, from a logistical point of view covering 240 matches and playoffs, how much that will cost.”
“The PSL has raised that concern, and we will engage them,” she said. She added that the budget covers the work Safa must do as the body in charge of referees.
The PSL did not attend the press conference in Pretoria. DSAC said the league is in line with all VAR plans and talks that are under way.
Safa has not yet awarded the tender to buy the VAR equipment. According to DSAC, bids have been received, and the PSL has given input and recommendations on them.
Safa said it has started preparing for referee training. It is drawing on the experience of football bodies such as Cosafa and Fifa.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.