Gayton McKenzie says R20m VAR funding is untouched as SAFA faces deadline

Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie says the R20 million allocated for the rollout of Video Assistant Referee technology in South African football remains untouched, despite delays in the project.

McKenzie has apologised for the slow progress and warned that the government will recover the funding if the South African Football Association fails to provide a satisfactory plan for moving the VAR project forward.

R20 million transferred to SAFA

In a statement, McKenzie confirmed that R20 million was transferred to SAFA on 6 March 2026 for the procurement of VAR equipment.

According to SAFA, the full amount remains unutilised in a separate account, together with the interest earned.

The only public money spent on the VAR project so far is R765,257.03, which funded a technical mission to Spain in November 2025.

While McKenzie stressed that public money had not been lost, he acknowledged that valuable time had been.

South African VAR rollout faces delays

SAFA formally embraced VAR in October 2024 before submitting a three-year implementation plan.

Under the plan, training for match officials was scheduled to begin in July 2026.

Experimental VAR deployments were targeted for the 2026/27 Nedbank Cup semi-finals, followed by a full rollout during the 2027/28 season.

The Department later raised concerns about the lack of progress.

On 13 August, it demanded that SAFA repay the R20 million.

SAFA responded five days later, apologising for the delay and confirming that the money had not been spent.

The Department has since granted SAFA a final 21-day extension. A comprehensive report is due by 9 September 2026.

McKenzie apologises over VAR delays

McKenzie accepted responsibility for the disappointment surrounding the pace of the project.

“I put VAR on the table and I told the country it was coming, so the disappointment with the pace of progress belongs to me as much as to anyone else,” said McKenzie. “I want to apologise to every South African I have let down.”

The minister said he did not want another football season to pass while the funding remained unused.

“The money is there, it has not been touched, and I am not going to allow it to sit in an account while another season is played under the same refereeing controversies we have all been complaining about for years.”

McKenzie prepared to approach FIFA

McKenzie reiterated his willingness to approach FIFA if the current process fails to deliver VAR.

“I have said I am prepared to go to FIFA to make this happen, and I meant it. VAR must come to our football. If it cannot come the way we planned, it will come another way. But come it will.”

The project could still proceed through SAFA if the association submits a satisfactory report and credible procurement timetable.

If SAFA fails to provide a satisfactory outcome, the Department says it will recover the R20 million and explore other lawful routes to introduce VAR to South African football in consultation with FIFA and CAF.

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