Government releases funds to SAFA as VAR implementation moves closer

By Velile Mnyandu
4th March 2026

The long wait for the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in South African football appears to be nearing an end after the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, confirmed that money has been paid to the South African Football Association (SAFA) to begin preparations for the system’s introduction next season.

Speaking at the department’s press conference at the Freedom Park Heritage Site in Pretoria on Wednesday, McKenzie revealed that the National Treasury has already transferred the funds to SAFA to enable the implementation of VAR.

The minister even showed the media documentation confirming that the payment had been made...

"We have now made sure that everything has been done. We are ready and we have kept our promise of VAR. In my hand, I have a proof of payment that we wrote to treasury.

"We have given the money for VAR to SAFA. SAFA must just pay because there's nothing McKenzie can do anymore."

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McKenzie had previously indicated that the department had set aside R20 million in the current financial year to support the introduction of VAR in South African football, amid growing calls for the technology to assist referees and improve decision-making in the domestic game.

The minister also outlined the steps taken in preparation for the rollout of VAR.

"Another promise we made was to move forward with the implementation of VAR in SA football, and when this discussion began, we were told that implementing VAR in South Africa could cost as much as R80 million, but instead of rushing into the process we met with SAFA, and together with SAFA we assembled a technical team and the best referees to properly evaluate all the options.

"That team was lead by Daniel Bennett, working alongside Victor Gomes, and others. We wanted to get the right people to do this and they assessed all the serious technology providers and worked closely with FIFA to ensure South Africa implement VAR in line with global standards.

"The department of sport, arts and culture was leading this process to ensure we implement VAR, but we cannot implement VAR alone so we have to work with SAFA, and the SAFA CEO has truly been a star in working with us."

McKenzie added that government officials did not simply wait for SAFA to drive the process but also conducted international benchmark exercises to study how VAR is implemented in other countries and to understand the latest trends in football technology.