SAFA sets VAR project in motion as Ebrahim unveils key timelines

But indications are that VAR won’t be introduced at the beginning of the season, with the SAFA Head of Referees, Abdul Ebrahim, confirming to SABC Sport that they will implement VAR this season, possibly towards the end of the season.

"With regards to VAR, as was mentioned previously, we have received, everybody is aware we have received the funding from the government with regards to that, and discussions are underway as far as the next steps are concerned," said Ebrahim

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"We have to get approval from the leadership, which is the National Executive Committee, and once that approval is received, then we can commence with our training sessions. For 2026-27, probably not."

"We could, if things go well, we could see VAR being introduced in the latter stages of the season, but obviously we have a VAR project team in place, and once they are ready to do their media brief, they will provide much more information as to what the next steps are, how long the next steps are going to take, and obviously when the full integration of VAR will be in our leagues."

With the government having allocated and transferred R20 million earlier this year to SAFA for the VAR introduction and the VAR project team, headed by Daniel Bennett, having done its work already, Ebrahim, who also forms part of the project team, provides an update on the VAR supplier as well.

"Look, that's the plan, but like I said, as soon as we can get the approval from the leadership, then our VAR project team will be able to speak to the media and let them know exactly what the next steps are and when we will look to implementation. That is part of the process we had to do to present to the NEC, and all the tenders that were presented, the adjudication report was submitted, and that is obviously part of the approval process."

The full rollout of the VAR is something that can be expected from next season, possibly, as Ebrahim reiterates what he’s said in the past, that VAR needs extensive training, as he also provides some reasons for this.

Meanwhile, there was an air of excitement at the referees’ workshop today, attended by over 120 match officials, including the match commissioners, review committee members, and SAFA refereeing leadership. Ebrahim says the reality is that VAR is coming and the introductory work on it in this workshop symbolizes that.

There are also four FIFA referee instructors, who are attending this workshop from Egypt, with the focus on classrooms in the morning and doing some field work in the afternoons.