South Africa minister gives SAFA 21 days to repay £550,000 VAR funds

South Africa’s Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has given the South African Football Association (SAFA) 21 days to repay R13m (£550,000) allocated to the organisation for the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.

McKenzie issued the ultimatum after the SA Sports Awards ceremony at Sun City on Sunday, warning that he would refer the matter to world football governing body FIFA if SAFA fails to return the money.

The minister said the funds were provided after he arranged for journalists, football administrators and members of a VAR research team to travel to Spain and the United Kingdom to assess the best system for South Africa.

“FIFA’s rules state clearly that VAR must be implemented through SAFA,” McKenzie said.

“I then allocated R13m to SAFA. I can’t do more as the minister.”

McKenzie said he had formally written to SAFA demanding the return of the money, but the association requested 21 days to respond.

“I am angry because what else can I do?” he said.

The minister also alleged that he had uncovered wider problems within SAFA, including what he described as corruption involving some officials.

While SAFA president Danny Jordaan has frequently been criticised over the association’s affairs, McKenzie said he believed other individuals within the organisation were responsible for delaying the VAR project.

“All the problems at SAFA are blamed on Danny Jordaan, but there are people within that organisation who are gatekeepers and are corrupt, and they simply don’t want VAR to happen,” he said.

“What is stopping this thing? What is stopping VAR?

“I can tell you now it’s not Danny Jordaan. It’s other individuals there that are blocking this thing and I will name them soon enough.”

McKenzie dismissed suggestions that referring the dispute to FIFA would amount to political interference in football.

He said he was prepared to face any consequences arising from his decision, including possible scrutiny of SAFA by FIFA.

The dispute adds to growing tensions between the government and SAFA over the administration and development of football in South Africa, with the implementation of VAR now at the centre of the latest disagreement.