With calls getting louder for VAR implementation in the country, former referee Daniel Bennett has revealed what’s causing the delay.
The latest biggest controversial refereeing moment in the PSL happened two weeks ago, after Kaizer Chiefs’ goal against Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals was allowed to stand, even though it appeared the assistant referee recommended to the main referee that there was a foul on goalkeeper Sage Stephens.
The timelines previously stated by the powers that be for the introduction of VAR in the country have come and gone. With countries such as Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia already having officially scheduled training of match officials for VAR, it has become clear that the money may no longer be the issue.
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According to PSL and FIFA former referee Bennett, the delay has been caused by debate between SAFA and PSL, on who should own the VAR system.
“The issue is, there is a debate between SAFA and PSL as to who has to run it. According to the IFAB procedure for VAR, the federation, because match officials belong to a federation, SAFA have to be in charge of the implementation of VAR as a system,” Bennett said on Omniaudioafrica YouTube Channel.
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“Obviously because of the money, the PSL would say we have to money to run VAR. In England, the FA implements VAR, the EPL only uses it for their league. So there’s a conflict of who must own VAR because PSL have put in the money, they want to own it.
“But it actually has to be run by the federation (SAFA) and that’s the glitch we’re sitting with at the moment,” Bennett revealed.
SAFA and the PSL have established a joint-liaison committee specifically to deal with the matter of acquiring VAR but they have been silent on what is delaying the technology rollout.
Source: https://www.snl24.com/soccerladuma/local/premiership/whats-delaying-var-in-the-psl-revealed-20250323
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