VAR nightmare drags on! South African football hit by another delay

SAFA has revealed a new roadmap after practical challenges derailed the initial rollout

Football news Today, 05:33

Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images

South African football will have to wait even longer for VAR.

Details: SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao has confirmed that the Video Assistant Referee system will not be introduced in the Betway Premiership in the immediate future. The association's VAR task team identified a number of practical challenges involving technical readiness, procurement, stakeholder coordination and referee preparation.

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Instead of immediately introducing the technology in the country's top division, SAFA intends to begin with controlled trials. The Hollywoodbets Super League and ABC Motsepe League playoffs are among the competitions being considered, while the Nedbank Cup later in the 2026/27 season has also been identified as a possible testing platform.

R20 million provided by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture remains unspent in a dedicated account together with accrued interest.
SAFA already has eight referees who have undergone VAR training through COSAFA.
Abongile Tom, Luxolo Badi and Akhona Makalima have been approved to work as VAR and AVAR officials.
Further referee training and certification is expected to require approximately four to six months.

SAFA was scheduled to meet FIFA on October 15 to seek approval for the next phase of referee training. The association must also continue discussions with the PSL and broadcasters SuperSport, Canal Plus and SABC to establish technical compatibility, infrastructure requirements and suitable camera coverage.

VAR in South African football — delayed AGAIN. ⚠️ SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao confirmed yesterday that VAR won't be ready for the Betway Premiership just yet, citing "practical challenges" discovered by the task team. The new target? The Nedbank Cup semi-finals or PSL promotion-relegation playoffs — possibly February 2027. Key facts from yesterday's briefing🎙️ 💰 R20 million from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture remains untouched in a separate account — with interest. ⚽ SAFA already has 8 referees trained through COSAFA, with 3 fully certified as VAR officials — Abongile Tom, Luxolo Badi and Akhona Makalima. 🕐 Referee training and certification is expected to take 4-6 months. SAFA met with FIFA today (15 Oct) to seek approval to begin. 🏟️ Rather than rushing into the Premiership, VAR will first be trialled in SAFA-run competitions — the Hollywoodbets Super League and ABC Motsepe League playoffs. 📺 The PSL and broadcasters (SuperSport, Canal+ and SABC) still need to be engaged on technical compatibility. Minister Gayton McKenzie, who pushed hard for VAR and secured the R20 million funding, said he's stepping back: "Don't ask me about VAR" — it's now in SAFA's hands. "VAR is not an easy thing to implement, but I can assure you it is going to happen," Monyepao said. The question is: when? 🤔 #VAR #SAFA #PSL #SASoccer #BetwayPremiership
— KickOff Online (@KickOffMagazine) October 15, 2026

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, who had publicly pushed for the introduction of VAR and helped secure the government funding, has now handed responsibility for implementation back to SAFA. Wider deployment will depend on FIFA approval, successful training, procurement compliance and agreements with the relevant football and broadcasting stakeholders.

It is worth noting that the South African VAR project dates back to 2024, while the latest roadmap still places controlled testing ahead of a full rollout in the Betway Premiership.

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