SA Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie confirms payment to Safa for VAR implementation in PSL matches, despite delays in its use this season. Picture: BackpagePix
Image: BACKPAGEPIX
SA Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie on Wednesday said the money has been paid to the SA Football Association (Safa) to begin using Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in local Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches.
Though he promised the VAR would be used in PSL football this season, that did not happen.
The cost of implementation is reported to be between R70 million and R80 million as a one-off expense and then approximately R70,000 per game thereafter.
While not mentioning the figures this week, McKenzie insisted the money had been paid over to Safa.
“Some people say we don't need VAR. How will you see death with the naked eye? Football is not waiting for South Africa. Luckily, you have a minister, a deputy minister that is not slow,” said McKenzie.
“And we have now made sure that everything has been done. We are ready. We've kept our promise of VAR.
“In my hand here, I have the proof of payment that we wrote to Treasury. Treasury has given us permission. I have paid now from the department with the deal.”
“We've given the money for VAR to Safa. Safa must just pay. So there's nothing McKenzie can do anymore. So I've kept my promise. So I don't want to hear somebody ask me where is VAR. Here is VAR. I have done my bit.”
Going on to taking credit for bringing LIV Golf to SA, McKenzie said: “We have given the money for VAR. We have assembled the people. We have done the expertise. So we've delivered on LIV Golf. We've delivered on VAR.”
The soonest VAR could be implement however, would only be at the start of a new season.