South Africa Gives SAFA 21 Days To Account For $811,535 VAR Funds

South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has given the South African Football Association (SAFA) 21 days to account for R13 million, approximately $811,535, allocated for the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the country.

McKenzie revealed that he had demanded the return of the funds after growing frustrated by the lack of progress in bringing VAR to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

The minister has taken a direct role in efforts to introduce the technology, particularly after several high-profile refereeing controversies in the Betway Premiership fuelled calls for VAR in South African football.

Speaking to the media after the 19th South African Sport Awards at Sun City in North West on Sunday, McKenzie said his department had formally written to SAFA demanding the return of the money.

According to the minister, the association responded by requesting a 21-day grace period to address the matter.

“What I did as a Minister, I did two things. I took journalists and administrators, and I took the team down to Spain and the UK so that they could go and see. So that we can compare which one is the best for us,” McKenzie said, via iol.co.za.

“I then took R13 million, and I took it to SAFA, and I can tell you now, that’s where I can’t do more as the Minister.”

McKenzie said he reached a point where he felt he had no choice but to request that the state funds be returned.

“I wrote SAFA a letter where I said they should return my money, and SAFA asked for 21 days’ grace,” he said.

“I am just as angry because what more can I do? I asked them in a letter to bring back my money, the money of the state, because I am responsible for it. They said they would act within 21 days because there was no action.”

Despite his frustration with SAFA’s handling of the process, McKenzie insisted that he remained committed to seeing VAR introduced in South African football and said he would consider other options if necessary.

“We were supposed to have VAR. So people shouldn’t look at me. I am the Minister who put it on the table that VAR should be there. I did everything humanly possible,” he said.