By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, says his department has allocated funding for the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in South Africa.
VAR has been implemented in over 50 leagues worldwide, and other African countries, such as Algeria, Egypt, Tanzania, and Morocco, are already using it.
The cost of implementation is reported to be between R70 million and R80 million as a once-off expense and then approximately R70,000 per game thereafter.
While not mentioning the figures during the media briefing on Wednesday, 03 March 2026, McKenzie insisted the money had been paid over to South African Football Association (SAFA).
McKenzie said SAFA has been given the necessary funds to implement the technology.
“Football is not waiting for South Africa; we’ve kept our promise of VAR. I have the proof of payment that the Treasury has given us permission. We’ve given the money for VAR to SAFA, they must just pay, “the minister said.
“I don’t want to hear somebody asking me, ‘Where is VAR?’ We have assembled the people; we have done the expertise. We have delivered on VAR.”
While it is designed to maintain a higher standard of officiating in matches and is used in cases of potential goal-scoring opportunities and red cards, VAR has been a source of controversy.
One point of criticism is how the technology affects the emotions experienced by fans, with a goal often being allowed or disallowed by a referee, only for the decision to be overturned by VAR.
This was one of the considerations when the International Football Association Board (IFAB) decided to begin VAR testing in 2016.
However, despite VAR allowing for more rigid match officiating, a survey of 33,243 English and Welsh football fans revealed that nearly all found the sport to have become less enjoyable.
This included both those who experienced VAR in-stadium, 95%, and those who watched it on television, 94%.
The primary reason for this loss of joy was the “removal of spontaneous celebrations,” and the impact caused by delays.
Of the 33,000 people surveyed, only 26% said they supported the use of VAR. However, 97% supported goal-line technology, which determines whether the entire ball has crossed the goal line.