South Africa’s eagerly awaited roll-out of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) now faces a significant delay. Fans are left uncertain whether the technology will be ready in time for the 2025 season. Despite previous promises from Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, his recent comments in Parliament have raised doubts.
The Promise of VAR in South African Football
Minister Gayton McKenzie has been a strong advocate for introducing VAR in South African football. His push for technological advancement aimed to improve fairness in the sport, especially after a controversial incident during the 2024 season. A disputed match between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns sparked outrage and highlighted the need for a technological solution to refereeing issues.
McKenzie quickly voiced his opinion, stating, “The PSL needs to introduce VAR.” He also pledged to meet with SAFA to finalise the details and secure funding for the technology. In his efforts, McKenzie worked with SuperSport to test VAR in Spain. “There is money to bring VAR to the PSL,” he confirmed, giving fans hope that the technology would soon be a reality.
Setbacks and Uncertainty: Is VAR Coming in Time?
However, recent comments by McKenzie have left fans wondering if VAR will be ready for the new season. During a parliamentary vote speech, McKenzie said, “We are also finalising the process of funding VAR to ensure that football matches, from the Premier Soccer League through to the international fixtures we host, are fairer and meet global standards.”
While McKenzie stressed that VAR is necessary for fairness in South African football, his statement suggested the technology might not be available on time. Fans had been expecting VAR based on McKenzie’s earlier promises. He had previously said, “The R90 million is there. We went to Spain with the help of SuperSport again, we tested VAR. It works 100%.” His recent remarks about finalising funding raised concerns that the technology might still be far from ready.
Why the Delay is a Concern for South African Football
The implementation of VAR is more than just an upgrade in technology. It’s about ensuring fairness and gaining international credibility for South African football. Clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns are gaining global recognition, and South Africa is increasingly hosting international fixtures. The absence of VAR raises concerns among foreign teams about officiating standards here.
McKenzie himself pointed out the impact poor refereeing has on the image of South African football: “The success of teams like Mamelodi Sundowns makes global teams want to play here, but they get second thoughts because we don’t have VAR.” The absence of VAR also affects local fans, who often resort to vandalism when they feel their team has been wronged. By introducing VAR, South Africa could restore faith in the fairness of its football.
The Road Ahead: Can McKenzie Deliver on His Promises?
As the 2025 PSL season approaches, the pressure is mounting on McKenzie and SAFA to finalise the implementation of VAR. Fans are still waiting for action after McKenzie previously promised that funding was secured. Now, many wonder why the process is taking longer than expected.
The delay has left some fans disillusioned. McKenzie had previously assured them that everything was in place, yet the rollout of VAR seems uncertain. While his commitment to modernising South African football remains strong, failing to deliver on VAR in a timely manner risks damaging his credibility.
Will the government and SAFA finalise the necessary funding and infrastructure in time for the 2025 season? Or will the promise of VAR remain unfulfilled?
Related: VAR Finally Coming to the PSL 2025/26 Season, Confirms Minister McKenzie
