McKenzie demands R13m back as VAR row with SAFA escalates

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has demanded the return of R13m given to the South African Football Association (SAFA) to help introduce Video Assistant Referee technology in the Premier Soccer League, accusing the association of failing to act.

The arrival of VAR in South African football has been delayed for a second season, despite continued calls from supporters for the technology to be used in key match decisions.

McKenzie had previously said VAR would be implemented during the current campaign. However, the system has yet to be introduced, and the minister says he has already done everything within his power to help make it happen.

He said he arranged for journalists, administrators and a technical team to travel overseas to examine how VAR could best be implemented, before providing SAFA with R13m towards the project.

“Let me tell you what’s happening with VAR. FIFA’s rules state clearly that it has to happen through the South African Football Association,” McKenzie told the media.

“What I did as a minister, I did two things. I took journalists. I took administrators, and I took the team down to Spain so that they could go and see in the UK so we can compare which one is the best for us.

“I then took R13 million, and I gave it to SAFA. And I can tell you now, that’s where I can’t do more as the minister.”

McKenzie said he had written to SAFA requesting that the state funds be returned after he concluded that no meaningful progress had been made. According to the minister, the association asked for 21 days’ grace to respond.

“I wrote SAFA a letter where I said they should return my money, and SAFA asked for 21 days’ grace. I am just as angry because what more can I do?

“I asked them in a letter to bring back my money. The money of the state, because I am responsible for it. They said they will act within 21 days. Because, for me, there was no action.”

The minister said South African football should already have had VAR and rejected suggestions that responsibility for the delay rested with him.

“We were supposed to have had VAR. So people shouldn’t look at me. I’m the minister who put it on the table that VAR should be there. I did everything humanly possible.”

McKenzie has now indicated that he intends to take the dispute to FIFA, having already spoken to the world governing body about the issue. He said he had been advised to put his concerns in writing and would pursue that route.

“Now I’m writing to FIFA. I have already spoken to FIFA. But I’m writing to them,” he added.

“They want me to write; I must go another way to get VAR, and I’m going to do that. There shall be VAR in the PSL.”

McKenzie also apologised to supporters, saying he felt badly let down by the failure to implement the technology.

“I want to apologise to the people. I’ve been let down terribly. Because what can I say? I have done everything. For me to write a letter to that extent, you must know how I feel.”