By Phumlani Zulu
A recent Betway Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs underscored the necessity of video assistant referee (VAR) technology in South African football.
In the match poor officiating by a South African Football Association (SAFA) referee was witnessed that cost Chiefs two legitimate goals, which has reignited the VAR debate in South Africans.
The match highlighted the results of SAFA and South African Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) delay with regard to implementing VAR in South Africa. South African coaches and administrators have long proposed for VAR’s introduction, citing its success in other African countries.
In the past seasons, coaches such as former Pirates assistant coach and Simba SC coach Fadlu Davids, former Sundowns coach and Wydad AC manager Rhulani Mokwena and recently-sacked AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco have voiced their concerns over the lack of VAR in the local premiership.
New Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi, who has experience in VAR-enabled Morocco, Tanzania and Tunisia, has also expressed surprise at South Africa’s delay to use this game-changing tool in footballing history.
After the game, there were a number of comments on different social media accounts, ranging from comments from sports fans, journalists to politicians, including ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie and sportscaster Robert Marawa condemning the poor officiating by referees in the PSL.
On his X (Twitter) account, Marawa emphasised the need for professional refereeing standards, while McKenzie pledged to address the concerns with SAFA and the PSL. Despite SAFA’s 2019 announcement of FIFA’s approval for VAR implementation, the local mother body has failed to introduce technological advancement, while less well-off countries such as Zambia, Tanzania and Mauritius have adopted VAR.
After so many incidents where poor officiating has been seen from referees in the Betway Premiership this season, SAFA and the PSL must prioritise VAR introduction to lift the league’s standards.
Continuous poor decision-making by referees will harm the game’s integrity and erode fans’ trust. SAFA and the PSL need to come to the party.
Honestly, if SAFA fails to introduce VAR, despite promises they made in 2019, that will continue to raise concerns about the organisation’s commitment to improving refereeing standards.
In an old article about SAFA’s considerations to introduce VAR in the country, SAFA Referees Committee chairman Victor Gomez promised that VAR will be introduced in the 2024/25 season, but his concerns about training (of referees) raise questions.
Two seasons ago, PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza expressed concern that VAR implementation will cost the league millions. His stance raises questions about the league’s priorities and commitment to fairness.
Judging by the reactions of the football fraternity after the Chiefs and Sundowns game, South Africa’s football community is fed up with the PSL excuses for not implementing VAR technology. Countries like Morocco and Egypt have embraced VAR, paying approximately R23 million per season.
It’s time the PSL prioritised fairness over finances. It is astounding that the PSL is citing lack of money, but they recently signed a R900 million deal with a betting company, Betway. This exposes the hypocrisy. With such money, VAR is estimated to cost around R40 million annually, which PSL can afford after securing sponsorship. Facilities and infrastructure can be upgraded to accommodate VAR.
The match between Sundowns and Chiefs has exposed the state of South African match officiating. The recent poor refereeing decisions are a disgrace, especially for a league of the PSL’s calibre.
South African football deserves better. It’s time to embrace technology to improve officiating in the game.
SAFA’s delayed introduction of VAR is fast eroding the organisation’s confidence in the fans. Delivering on promises and investing in refereeing are essential to the growth of South African football.
