South Africa’s VAR project faces delay as ministry demands answers from SAFA

South Africa’s Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) says the R20 million allocated for the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology remains untouched, but has warned that the money will be recovered if the South African Football Association (SAFA) cannot provide a satisfactory progress report by 9 September 2026.

The ministry issued the statement after growing public concern about the slow rollout of VAR in South African football. Calls for the technology have intensified since last season, particularly after a series of incidents involving dangerous tackles and disputed refereeing decisions during the current campaign.

DSAC said the R20 million was transferred to SAFA on 6 March 2026, after the department announced the allocation two days earlier. SAFA confirmed in writing to the Director-General on 18 August that the full amount was still held in a separate account, together with the interest earned, and had not been used.

That confirmation followed a disclosure by SAFA’s Chief Executive Officer to the association’s Finance Committee on 13 July.

The ministry said the only public money spent on the VAR project so far was R765,257.03, used to fund a technical fact-finding mission to Spain in November 2025. That spending was reported to the National Assembly in response to Question 431 of 2026.

DSAC also clarified the larger figures previously mentioned in relation to the project. In October 2024, it said up to R90 million could be made available. In September 2025, the Minister confirmed that R82 million had been set aside. National Treasury later approved an initial R20 million for the 2025/26 financial year.

The first tranche was based on a three-year implementation plan submitted by SAFA, with the first year budgeted at R20,477,800. Further funding was always dependent on evidence of progress and the completion of outstanding procurement requirements, the ministry said.

“No public money has been lost. What has been lost is time,” DSAC said.

How the project stalled

The process began on 11 October 2024, when the Minister met the SAFA National Executive Committee (NEC) in Gqeberha. SAFA formally supported the introduction of VAR, and the department subsequently wrote to the SAFA President and CEO confirming that it could provide as much as R90 million.

On 8 April 2025, SAFA published a Request for Proposals, with submissions closing on 21 April. Responses were received from both South African and international providers.

A Tender Evaluation Committee was formed in the middle of 2025, comprising four SAFA representatives, two DSAC officials and two representatives from the Premier Soccer League (PSL). At its first meeting, the committee concluded that the process needed to comply with FIFA’s VAR Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP).

FIFA approval is required before any country can introduce VAR. The process includes appointing a VAR Project Team, producing a detailed project plan and confirming the technology provider.

SAFA wrote to the Minister on 12 August 2025, identifying the appointment of a VAR Project Team as a priority and asking for guidance on available funding. On 3 September, the Minister confirmed that R82 million had been set aside in the current budget and urged SAFA to proceed quickly.

In November, a technical mission travelled to Spain. It was led by SAFA’s VAR Project Leader, former FIFA referee Mr Daniel Bennett, alongside the Minister’s Special Adviser and three South African journalists invited to observe the work.

The mission assessed one of four shortlisted global suppliers and watched live VAR operations, including at the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The technical evaluation that followed was carried out by referees, with Mr Bennett working alongside Mr Victor Gomes, Mr Jerome Damon and SAFA’s Head of Referees, Mr Abdul Ebrahim.

On 17 November 2025, the VAR Project Team announced a shortlist of four possible providers and confirmed that Treasury had approved an initial allocation of more than R20 million.

SAFA submitted an amended three-year business plan and budget on 28 February 2026. The plan totalled about R54.7 million over three financial years, with match-official training due to begin in July 2026. It proposed experimental VAR use during the 2026/27 Nedbank Cup semi-finals and a full rollout at the beginning of the 2027/28 season.

The R20 million transfer was announced and processed on 4 and 6 March. The funds were ringfenced for the purchase of VAR equipment under an agreement between DSAC and SAFA.

However, a presentation by the VAR Project Team to the SAFA NEC, scheduled for 7 March, was postponed. DSAC asked for a written implementation report on 8 April, but said no report was supplied.

At a meeting on 9 and 10 May, the SAFA NEC approved the project in principle but decided that its Finance Committee should conduct a further review of the budget before final approval. The NEC appointed a task team to carry out that review on 22 May.

A virtual Joint Liaison Committee meeting with the PSL was held on 2 June, followed by a presentation to the PSL Executive Committee.

On 13 July, SAFA’s CEO told the task team that none of the money transferred by DSAC had been spent. The task team also raised questions about several budget items.

The Director-General wrote to SAFA on 13 August, expressing concern about the absence of a progress report and the lack of movement on implementation. In line with the Public Finance Management Act, the department demanded the immediate repayment of the R20 million.

SAFA apologised for the delay in its response five days later, confirmed that the money remained intact and unused, and requested up to 21 more days to complete its internal budget verification.

The Director-General granted a final 21-day extension on 19 August. SAFA must submit a comprehensive report covering the review’s findings, the project’s status, recommendations for the next steps and confirmation of the funds held, including interest.

The department said it reserved the right to take any decision it considered necessary if the outstanding issues were not resolved satisfactorily.

Minister promises VAR will arrive

The deadline expires on 9 September 2026, meaning SAFA’s report is not yet overdue. DSAC said the project could continue if SAFA provides a satisfactory report and a credible procurement timetable.

If that does not happen, the ministry will reclaim the money and explore other lawful ways of introducing VAR to South African football. Those options would be pursued in consultation with FIFA and CAF, whose regulations determine how VAR can be implemented by member associations.

The Minister also said concerns about conduct within football administration would be dealt with through the appropriate forums and, where necessary, referred to the relevant authorities rather than debated through the media.

“I put VAR on the table and I told the country it was coming, so the disappointment with the pace of progress belongs to me as much as to anyone else,” said Minister McKenzie. “I want to apologise to every South African I have let down. What I will not do is pretend. The money is there, it has not been touched, and I am not going to allow it to sit in an account while another season is played under the same refereeing controversies we have all been complaining about for years.

“I have said I am prepared to go to FIFA to make this happen, and I meant it. VAR must come to our football. If it cannot come the way we planned, it will come another way. But come it will.”

DSAC said a phased introduction during the current season remained possible if procurement was completed. The existing plan allows training for match officials to begin in July 2026, experimental use in the 2026/27 Nedbank Cup semi-finals and full implementation from the 2027/28 season.

The department said it would publish updates as the process developed, arguing that the football public had a right to know what was happening.

DSAC also said it transfers public money to more than 60 sports bodies, all of which are subject to the same requirements: funds must be used for their approved purpose, properly accounted for and reported on when requested. Where those obligations are not met, the ministry said, the money will be recovered.

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