Public internet VAR model wins favour with South African delegation

Speaking to SABC Sport, just after concluding their last visit to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) headquarters in Spain, Cilliers explained why this trip was necessary. 

Led by the newly appointed SAFA project leader for the VAR management team, Daniel Bennett, Cilliers says Minister McKenzie and his team had already been to Spain.

"This was a trip that came up spontaneously. We heard about Daniel Bennett and his team and then we met with him. We've been here in April with the director general, the CFO of the department, the minister was here and we were lucky enough to actually see some of the facilities,” Cillies said. 

“It's expanded since then and we are very excited since it's the second wave of VAR, it's a new kind of technology and it's working off the cellphone networks, public internet basically. 

“It's gonna work very well for us in South Africa if we can go with this option right now, Daniel and his team are looking at the different possibilities but we're looking for what can be the fastest, the cheapest and the most sustainable for us that we don't have to invest too much in our infrastructure and we can get this thing up and running in the shortest amount of time. 

“With the money we have which we know is not a lot, we have to do more with less but South Africans are good at doing that right, so that's why we're here."

READ: SAFA opts for full VAR system over VAR Lite ahead of Portfolio Committee briefing

Bennett, after witnessing the live production workflow and transmission from the hub, experienced the full remote operation in real-time of the women’s El Clásico (FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid), and was also sold on the importance of the public internet offering. 

He says this will be ideal, considering the vastness of South Africa and the distance between cities and venues.

"Look, I think we're gonna be led in large parts by Daniel and his team because they are the experts, they are the refs, they are the ones that are talking to the right people,” he added.

“So, it's not for us to dictate how this has to happen exactly, we are there to support as I said to be a catalyst and to make sure that there is enough momentum and to make sure that they get this over the line, that's what we expect."