VAR technology is desperately needed in South African football to reduce or fix officiating errors.
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As the Professional Soccer League (PSL) season comes to an end, we take stock of it.
At this point, champagne is on ice for the incoming champions, while others congratulate themselves on making it into the Top 8.
Others, on the other hand, are struggling to avoid relegation while fighting for their lives.
The three men on the pitch (the referee and his two assistants) decided their fate and current position on the log, and in some cases, not without controversy.
Some fans, coaches, sports pundits, and even players remain disappointed and unhappy because of the circumstances surrounding the results they received (a loss or draw) that they deem unfair or incorrect.
Referees' rulings on everything from corner kicks to penalties, goals to disallowed goals, and red cards to unpunished tackles have set tongues wagging throughout the season.
Because they are human, referees make mistakes. But there's a lot on the line.
The league brings in more than R1.19 billion a year. More than R717 million in prize money and monthly grants are given to the rival clubs.
It gets even better: the 16 clubs have a combined squad market value of R3 billion, and the league winners receive R20 million. We could go on and on about specific club sponsorships involved.
Soccer has a significant impact on livelihoods and helps to build nations.
This raises the question of why the wealthiest soccer league in Africa still lacks the technological advantage of Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Technology is required to identify "clear and obvious errors" or "serious missed incidents."
Thankfully, the South African Football Association is preparing to introduce the technology following government backing.
The announcement that the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture has set aside money for the VAR rollout in anticipation of a soft launch and the technology's incorporation into the Betway Premiership is timely, even though it comes too late for those who feel hard done by as a result of human error.
We hope that VAR will save football in the nation, help the sport reach international standards, and rebuild confidence in officiating.