Dennis Mumble Highlights Financial Hurdles in South Africa’s VAR Implementation

Dennis Mumble, the ex-CEO of the South African Football Association, has talked about the money problems that make it hard to bring Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to South African football. He shared these thoughts when many people started asking for VAR after some controversial referee decisions in the 2024/25 Premier League season.

Discussions over the necessity of VAR in the league have been rekindled by the recent Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, which featured contentious refereeing. Gayton McKenzie, the sports minister, had previously stated that he intended to raise money for VAR, projecting that it would cost between R70 and R80 million in total, plus an extra R70,000 for each game.

Speaking to FARPost, Mumble acknowledged the necessity of VAR but emphasized its financial burden. “FIFA has strict standards for VAR implementation, and the equipment alone is very expensive,” he said. “The league would need to allocate millions of rands to make this a reality.”

He added, “It’s not about a lack of will; it’s about a lack of money. SAFA and the PSL must explore government funding or private sponsorships to cover the costs.”

Mumble thinks VAR might drastically cut down on officiating mistakes, but money is still an open issue. As South Africa's football community waits for advancement, the discussion highlights the increasing need to update PSL officiating.

Source: [FAR Post]