Safa president Danny Jordaan recently gave an update on VAR. | BackpagePix
Smiso Msomi
SAFA president Danny Jordaan has provided the latest developments regarding the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the PSL.
The calls for the introduction of the technological aid to officiating have been made by clubs and supporters alike in the country’s footballing ranks, after calamitous mistakes made by referees in recent seasons.
Various north African nations like Morocco, Egypt and Algeria have moved swiftly in following the European circuit in implementing VAR.
Jordaan caught up with the media while attending the KZN Premier’s Cup last weekend and he revealed that the next step facing Safa and the PSL is that of collaborating with the league’s broadcaster, SuperSport.
“We will call a joint liaison meeting, that’s where the VAR will be dealt with. That joint liaison meeting will include the PSL and we’ve had three of those meetings of VAR in succession and we asked them to go off and come back,” he revealed.
“Central to VAR is the broadcaster as well, so we must also engage the broadcaster.”
PSL chairman Irvin Khoza recently responded to media questions regarding the process of implementing VAR, explaining what the PSL had done to fast-track the groundbreaking introduction to the domestic ranks. He opened up about some of the challenges faced in educating officials on how to use VAR and revealed that the process was no longer under their control.
“Unfortunately, we went to the national association at the time and only two people were qualified to be operating VAR,” he stated.
“Fortunately, some months ago we were in a meeting, a committee meeting, (where) 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 Euros that the VAR is attractive in our game. But we want to go there to assist (officials). People are now saying it kills the excitement, which (former Fifa boss Sepp) Blatter was the one who was strongly against it.”
The Safa head of referees had previously suggested that a trial run for VAR would be done in last season’s Nedbank Cup final, however, it did not come to fruition. Khoza has since reiterated that the PSL are eager to have VAR installed as soon as possible.
“We are committed to doing that (implement VAR). 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. November/December 2022 we were ready to go.”
The 2024/2025 season of the PSL kicks off this weekend with MTN8 fixtures taking centre stage before Betway Premiership matches start on the September 10.
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