{"id":2674,"date":"2025-09-04T19:22:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T17:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swazidailynews.com\/?p=2674"},"modified":"2025-09-04T19:22:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T17:22:21","slug":"government-commits-r82-million-to-fast-track-var-in-south-african-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/2674\/news\/world\/government-commits-r82-million-to-fast-track-var-in-south-african-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Government commits R82 million to fast-track VAR in South African football"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"149\" data-end=\"343\">The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has announced an allocation of <strong data-start=\"229\" data-end=\"244\">R82 million<\/strong> to accelerate the rollout of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in South African football.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"345\" data-end=\"644\">In a statement on Thursday, the department said \u201csignificant progress\u201d had been made in collaboration with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL), highlighting that the investment is aimed at improving the integrity and fairness of domestic competitions.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"646\" data-end=\"857\">\u201cThis initiative responds to growing concerns about refereeing decisions, fan dissatisfaction, and the need to safeguard South Africa\u2019s standing in global football if VAR is not adopted,\u201d the department noted.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"859\" data-end=\"889\">SAFA\u2019s role and progress<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"890\" data-end=\"1259\">While the PSL manages the league, it is SAFA that oversees refereeing in the country. The federation has already taken several steps towards implementation, including publishing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for VAR technology, receiving submissions from service providers, and aligning the project with FIFA\u2019s Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP).<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1261\" data-end=\"1498\">The department praised SAFA\u2019s \u201cexemplary commitment\u201d to transparency and compliance with FIFA\u2019s standards, adding that a dedicated VAR Project Team had been appointed and talks with the PSL were ongoing to ensure a coordinated rollout.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1500\" data-end=\"1532\">How the money will be used<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1533\" data-end=\"1572\">The R82 million allocation will fund:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1573\" data-end=\"1897\">\n<li data-start=\"1573\" data-end=\"1652\">\n<p data-start=\"1575\" data-end=\"1652\">A detailed project plan and training programmes for referees and officials.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1653\" data-end=\"1704\">\n<p data-start=\"1655\" data-end=\"1704\">Technology procurement and stadium assessments.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1705\" data-end=\"1748\">\n<p data-start=\"1707\" data-end=\"1748\">Establishment of a VAR Training Centre.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1749\" data-end=\"1897\">\n<p data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1897\">Improved stadium connectivity, not only for VAR but also for public safety, including emergency communications such as tracing missing children.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2675\" src=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1b6b19856a9c49b48a5d5d8abb16eaf3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1899\" data-end=\"1936\">Timeline and rollout challenges<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1937\" data-end=\"2197\">Although the tender process has been completed, a committee still needs to review bids and appoint a service provider. DSAC indicated that VAR could be introduced as early as next season but cautioned that it may only feature in select cup fixtures at first.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2199\" data-end=\"2394\">\u201cAs far as refereeing is concerned, we are ready,\u201d the department said. \u201cHowever, full implementation in the league will take longer due to the extensive training required for match officials.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has announced an allocation of R82 million to accelerate the&hellip;","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,30],"tags":[46,79,55,50,80,68],"class_list":["post-2674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","category-world","tag-africa","tag-betway-premiership","tag-business","tag-international","tag-south-africa","tag-sport","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - 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