Where is VAR? Fans Demand Answers

The new season of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has started with exciting matches and plenty of drama, but also with growing frustration that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has not been implemented, despite repeated assurances.
After three rounds, the league table is already shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years. Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs have made perfect starts with nine points each, winning three games from three, while Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have had mixed results. At the bottom, Richards Bay still struggles to find their first win.
But alongside the action, one big question keeps coming up: “Where is VAR?”
VAR technology is utilized in many top leagues worldwide to review key decisions, including goals, offsides, and penalties. South African football supporters believe it is long overdue in the PSL, especially with the number of refereeing mistakes seen in the opening rounds.
The Minister of Sport’s Art and Culture Gayton Mackenzie’s Facebook page is constantly flooded by football fans asking the same question, “Where is VAR?”
Supporters argue that the absence of the Video Assistant Referee system is costing clubs points and creating unnecessary tension in the league.
In an interview on The Konvo Show podcast released on 13 August 2025, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie shed light on the situation. He admitted that while funding has been secured, implementation has been more complicated than expected. “I promised people VAR is coming. You know, sometimes you don’t get a full story. I asked SAFA why there’s no VAR, because we need VAR in the country. SAFA told me, Minister, we don’t have money…. people came to see me. I said How much do you need. They said maximum R80 million, I said say no more. I promised people that VAR is coming. I do my things, I budget, then here is the money for VAR, where is VAR? They said No minister, you can’t put the tender for VAR…According to FIFA rules, SAFA must put out the tender,” Mackenzie explained.
He revealed that the Department had budgeted up to R80 million, covering stadium connectivity and technology costs. However, FIFA rules mean the South African Football Association (SAFA) must handle the tender process and ensure referees are trained.
“It’s in progress, my mistake, I thought if I bring the money, VAR will come. FIFA even says to us now, your referees must be trained in that, so I think half the season or so. But the money is there, that’s the important stuff. It’s coming,” Mackenzie added.
Parliament has also been closely monitoring the issue. On 03 June 2025, SAFA briefed the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture about the implementation of VAR and broader governance challenges.
According to the briefing, two service providers, one local and one International, have been shortlisted to provide VAR technology. The costs are estimated between R8 million and R12 million, covering a six-week referee training programme and operational rollout. Eight referees have already completed their training and received licenses to operate the VAR system.
However, the meeting also highlighted SAFA’s financial and governance challenges. Members expressed concern about the association’s reliance on limited sponsorships, inconsistent decision-making, and accountability issues. Tensions during the session, including the absence of Minister McKenzie, who was on a trip to Brazil, underscored Parliament’s frustration with delays in the rollout of VAR and broader football governance.
According to Minister Gayton McKenzie, the main obstacles to delaying the VAR are the Tender process, SAFA, not the Ministry, must issue and oversee the tender in line with FIFA rules.
The continued absence of VAR means that contentious refereeing calls may still decide the outcome of crucial fixtures this season. Title races, relegation battles, and high-profile derbies could all be influenced. Clubs and supporters who hoped for more transparency and fairness at the start of the PSL season are frustrated by the outcome.
For now, the PSL continues without VAR, but its long-awaited arrival could transform South African football by introducing mechanisms that can ensure fairness, credibility, and confidence in the beautiful game.