By McGeorge Mbare
South Africa’s Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has announced significant progress in the procurement and implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
In collaboration with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the PSL, the department says the project is aimed at enhancing the integrity of the game and raising the overall standard of South African football.
“The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture is pleased to announce progress in the procurement and implementation of the Video Assistant Referee system for South African football. This initiative seeks to improve integrity, fairness and the overall quality of domestic competitions by addressing ongoing concerns over refereeing decisions, which have led to fan dissatisfaction and could impact South Africa’s global football standing if VAR is not adopted,” the ministry said in a statement.
As part of the rollout, the department has published a request for proposals for VAR technology, received responses from potential providers, and aligned the process with FIFA’s Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP).
To support the project, the department has allocated R82 million from its current budget specifically for VAR implementation.