South Africa to announce VAR plans on Wednesday, says sports minister McKenzie

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, has confirmed that an announcement on the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in South African football will be made on Wednesday, 14 October.

McKenzie said the announcement would be made following discussions involving the South African Football Association (SAFA), with the briefing expected to provide an update on the country’s plans to implement the technology.

“We making an announcement on Wednesday,” McKenzie said.

The briefing is expected to address progress made towards introducing VAR, the challenges facing its implementation and the next steps in the process.

The development could mark an important stage in South Africa’s efforts to strengthen officiating standards and explore the use of technology to support referees in making key decisions during matches.

VAR is designed to assist match officials in reviewing clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents involving goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity.

Its use has become increasingly widespread in major football competitions around the world, although its introduction requires investment in technology, training for officials and the establishment of appropriate operational procedures.

South Africa’s planned announcement is expected to provide greater clarity on the proposed implementation process and the work still required before the system can be used in domestic football.

However, McKenzie has yet to disclose specific details about the arrangements, including a possible timeline for its introduction, the competitions that could benefit first or the resources required to make the system operational.

With SAFA involved in the forthcoming briefing, further details are expected to emerge about the football authorities’ plans and the measures being considered to address the practical challenges associated with VAR.

The announcement will be closely watched by stakeholders in South African football, particularly clubs, referees and supporters interested in how the technology could affect match officiating.