Premier Soccer League chairman Dr Irvin Khoza has finally clarified the issue of VAR implementation in South African football, saying they are waiting on SAFA to give the greenlight.
With North African countries like Morocco, Algeria and Egypt having already introduced the use of Video Assistant Refereeing, frustration from local fans has brewed over the past few years as to why it has taken the PSL so long to finally have VAR implemented.
Speaking to the media at the PSL headquarters, Khoza revealed that they were ready back in 2022 but are yet to get the go-ahead from the association.
“December 2022, Multichoice came forward that ‘we want to assist you [PSL] in this VAR thing, can we have a test run?,” Khoza said.
“Unfortunately, we went to the national association at the time and only two people were qualified to be operating VAR.
“Fortunately, some months ago, we were in a meeting, a committee meeting we discussed this matter. They’re frustrating you know the training of people to be able to man the VAR.
“I don’t know after watching the EURO that the VAR is attractive in our game. But we want to go there to assist. People are now saying it kills the excitement, which [Sepp] Blatter was the one who was strongly against it.
“But we are committed to do that [implement VAR], but it’s now off the shelve off Multichoice now. Apparently, now the association is taking it over and they’re right because they are the owners of the referees.
“So we’re waiting for the signal from them to tell us what they want to do. At that point we were ready.
“November/December 2022 we were ready to go. I’m happy that I’m talking in front of the bosses here. Mr Rendani, Mr Jury, if I’m lying they will say I’m lying,” Khoza added further.
