Implementing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in South African football will cost more than R50 million for a full rollout and long-term sustainability – not R20 million, as previously thought. This was revealed by South African Football Association (Safa) chief executive, Lydia Monyepao.
Safa recently accounted to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), on why VAR has not yet been implemented despite receiving R20 million in funding.
Clarifying that the initial money was untouched – and has since accrued R500,000 in interest since being deposited in April – Monyepao explained that Safa still need to tick several key regulatory boxes before launching a pilot project.
Speaking at a joint media briefing hosted by DSAC and Safa at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Pretoria, Monyepao outlined a three-year implementation roadmap for VAR, detailing the focus for the first two years.
“The first year was mainly for the procurement of VAR equipment, including mobile broadcast vehicles, insurance, and connectivity,” she said. “The second year was focused on training the referees, but when we noticed that Cosafa was already ahead, we consulted with them.”
The initial DSAC funding was intended to cover only the first year. Monyepao broke down the total projected investment needed over the full three-year cycle.
“The budget that we submitted to DSAC was a three-year budget,” Monyepao said. “The first budget was R20 million … but the total budget was R50 million.”
However, the R50 million figure covers only Safa direct expenses, as the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has yet to calculate its own daily operational costs.
“I have to add a disclaimer to the R50 million figure and state that the PSL has not had a say in this,” Monyepao revealed. “We don’t know yet, from a logistical point of view covering 240 matches and playoffs, how much that will cost.
“The PSL has raised that concern, and we will engage them. The budget we have is for the tasks of Safa – as the custodian of referees – must undertake to kick off the VAR implementation.”
The PSL's absence from the press conference raised eyebrows in the nation’s capital. However, DSAC clarified that the league is aligned with all ongoing VAR developments and discussions.
Safa admitted it has not yet awarded the procurement tender, though bids have been received, with the PSL providing input and recommendations, according to DSAC. Nonetheless, the association takes pride in laying the groundwork for referee training, drawing expertise from federations such as Cosafa and Fifa.