‘FIX THE MESS!’ Minister demands answers as VAR saga drags on
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has intensified his war of words with the South African Football Association (SAFA) over the continued delay in bringing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to South African football.
McKenzie says he has written to SAFA demanding answers about the R13 million provided to assist with the VAR project.
According to the minister, SAFA has asked for more time to get the project on track.
“SAFA has asked for more time to fix the mess,” McKenzie said.
But the minister believes the issue can no longer be blamed on a lack of money.
“The issue is no longer funding, but implementation and accountability,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie has also taken the fight beyond SAFA, approaching FIFA over the delays.
According to the minister, FIFA advised South Africa to look at alternative ways of bringing VAR into the country’s football competitions.
VAR had been expected to be introduced during the 2026/27 season, following years of delays involving funding, infrastructure, referee training and administrative processes.
Previous government plans included substantial funding for the project, with Treasury approving R20 million for the VAR initiative after a larger proposed transfer was rejected.
McKenzie says government has therefore played its part.
“Government has done its part by making funding available,” the minister said.
He believes the responsibility now rests with SAFA and other football stakeholders to complete the implementation.
The controversy comes as South African football continues to be rocked by disputed refereeing decisions, with supporters increasingly questioning why a professional league still does not have VAR.
For many fans, the wait has become a source of frustration.
SAFA has previously indicated that additional work, particularly the training of officials and technical preparations, is required before VAR can finally be introduced.
But McKenzie’s latest intervention has placed SAFA under renewed pressure to explain what has happened to the money and why South African football is still waiting for technology that has become standard in many major competitions around the world.
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