VAR won't end the arguments! SAFA boss keeps the controversy going
Danny Jordaan has poured cold water on hopes that VAR will put an end to every refereeing controversy in South African football.
Details: The SAFA president addressed the role of video review during a Department of Sport, Arts and Culture media briefing, using the controversial MTN8 final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates as a clear example. Referee Abongile Tom faced two major penalty decisions in the match, which Sundowns eventually won 2-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Pirates were awarded a second-half penalty after Teboho Mokoena's challenge on Yanela Mbuthuma, but Ronwen Williams saved the spot-kick. Deep into the closing stages, Sundowns were then given a penalty of their own after Siyanda Ndlovu went down during a tussle with Thapelo Mokobodi, with Iqraam Rayners converting to complete the 2-0 victory.
Jordaan insisted that technology cannot remove the subjective element from football:
“VAR won't settle the disputes, whether it was a penalty or not. You're not going to stop debating. VAR will assist them.”
According to the SAFA president, the major benefit will instead be VAR's ability to alert referees to incidents they cannot see. He pointed to Themba Zwane's sending-off at the 2026 World Cup as an example, saying the referee initially missed the incident before the video officials intervened.
A similar situation occurred in the MTN8 final when Mbuthuma kicked Sundowns midfielder Tashreeq Matthews away from the referee's view. Former FIFA referee Victor Hlungwani later described the episode as violent conduct and argued that the Pirates forward should have been sent off.
It is worth noting that Mamelodi Sundowns' 2-0 triumph gave the club its first MTN8 title since 2021 and ended Orlando Pirates' run of four consecutive victories in the competition.
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Steven Perez
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