Jordaan urged to make VAR delivery the defining achievement of fourth Safa term

Danny Jordaan’s fourth consecutive term as president of the South African Football Association (Safa) has begun under intense scrutiny, but delivering Video Assistant Referee (VAR) could reshape his legacy before he leaves office.

The technology remains divisive among football supporters and officials, yet persistent refereeing problems in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) have strengthened the case for its introduction in South Africa.

The PSL is a multi-billion rand product, but repeated officiating errors have damaged its reputation and, at times, affected teams’ points and trophies. Coaches and players have also lost their jobs as a result of decisions on the pitch, while the livelihoods of referees and other match officials can come under pressure.

South African officials have reached major international tournaments, including the senior men’s FIFA World Cup. Referee Abongile Tom and assistant referee Zakhele Siwela were selected for the recent finals in North America, although the representation of South African officials at that level can still grow.

Safa has been given responsibility for introducing VAR and providing the service for most football matches in the country. The initiative has received financial backing from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), which has provided R20 million.

Safa chief executive Lydia Monyepao has said that funding is specifically intended for procurement, including the purchase of equipment. The second phase of Safa’s three-year plan involves training referees to operate the system.

According to Safa, it is handling that training independently with assistance from the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa), offering some encouragement that preparations are already under way.

The central challenge now falls to Jordaan: converting those plans into an operational system. Prolonged discussions without a clear programme of implementation would do little to address the concerns surrounding officiating.

Funding will be required to complete the project. Safa has maintained that grant income is allocated to designated purposes. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has increased its annual grant from R8.5 million to R11.5 million, while FIFA is expected to raise its four-year grant from $10 million (roughly R168.8 million) to $25 million (roughly R412 million).

Those increases could give Safa greater financial scope, although the association will still need to identify and close funding gaps. The money must be used properly and specifically for football development, including improvements to refereeing and match control.

A successful VAR rollout would strengthen the PSL’s position among the world’s better-developed leagues and help present South Africa’s sporting infrastructure more positively when the country makes future bids to host events.

Although VAR has not won universal support, its critics cannot be used as a reason to delay its adoption indefinitely. Safa and its special member, the PSL, recognise that the system has become an established part of modern football.

Installing VAR during what could be Jordaan’s final term would improve his standing and leave South African football in a stronger position. Failure to deliver it would instead intensify scrutiny of reports alleging misuse of funds during his tenure.