Zungu promises VAR push if elected as Safa president

Sandile Zungu says he will make the introduction of video assistant referee (VAR) technology in South African football a priority if he defeats Danny Jordaan in Saturday’s South African Football Association (Safa) presidential election.

The AmaZulu owner also apologised to sports minister Gayton McKenzie, who has backed the implementation of VAR and reportedly allocated about R20m to Safa for the project.

McKenzie is reported to have threatened to withdraw his support and demanded that the association return the money after becoming dissatisfied with how the process had been handled.

Zungu said the minister deserved an apology and acknowledged that Safa had failed to communicate properly with him and with parliament’s sports committee.

“I should have started by apologising to the minister, and the parliamentary committee on sports because what has happened in the last couple of weeks has been utter disrespect,” Zungu said.

“If minister McKenzie says, ‘I need to see VAR supported,’ and he gives money to Safa, the least we could have done is to meet him halfway and put that money to good use.

“When we don’t communicate and he is the one who is being held accountable in parliament over how that money was spent, he’s got the right to be angry. I apologise to the minister for that. I believe that we need to work with all the stakeholders, including the minister.”

Zungu, who is challenging the incumbent Jordaan for the Safa presidency, said the dispute over funding should not prevent South Africa from moving ahead with VAR.

He argued that the country had fallen behind major football leagues around the world, where the technology has become an established part of officiating.

“We need VAR. In major leagues across the world, VAR has become the standard. Why must we be left behind?

“If the fault is on the side of Safa, there are no excuses. I cannot impose the deadline because I need to get close to the situation. But I will be on the side of those who say we need it sooner rather than later.

“We need to develop a strong relationship between Safa and the PSL on implementation of VAR. If there is a poor relationship, it is the grass that suffers.”

Zungu did not set a specific deadline for the rollout, saying he first needed to understand the details of the situation. However, he made clear that he would support the quickest possible introduction of the system if elected.

He also stressed that Safa and the Premier Soccer League would need to work together to deliver VAR successfully. In his view, any continued tension between the two bodies would ultimately affect football and its players.

McKenzie’s reported funding of about R20m had been intended to support VAR, but the minister’s frustration over the handling of the money has led to threats that his backing could be withdrawn. Zungu said a closer working relationship between Safa, the PSL and the sports ministry would be essential to resolving the issue.