WATCH | ‘SAFA has done me very dirty’: McKenzie demands R30m back over delayed VAR rollout

Gayton McKenzie

Cape Town – Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has demanded that the South African Football Association (SAFA) account for money allocated for the delayed implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, saying the football governing body has left him politically exposed.

McKenzie made the demand during a heated parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture meeting on Tuesday, where SAFA officials were questioned about the stalled VAR rollout, administrative failures and other issues affecting South African football.

According to Daily Maverick, McKenzie told MPs that he had formally asked SAFA to return R30 million allocated by his department after the association failed to meet its deadline to introduce VAR ahead of the new Premier Soccer League season.

McKenzie said he had initially defended SAFA publicly while facing criticism over the delayed implementation.

“I have been dragged in the media, and it seems like Safa does not care.”

He said correspondence sent to SAFA requesting an explanation was ignored, prompting him to demand the money back.

“How do you ignore me after receiving my money?”

McKenzie subsequently instructed SAFA to return the funds, after which the association requested a 21-day grace period.

The minister also rejected the argument that South Africa needed a lengthy study before proceeding with VAR, saying the technology was already widely used in other major sports.

“So soccer needs it. Period,”

he told the committee, according to Daily Maverick.

The Citizen reported that McKenzie similarly accused SAFA of failing to deliver on the promised VAR rollout despite receiving state funding.

“SAFA must pay back the money,”McKenzie was quoted as saying, accusing the association of ignoring correspondence and leaving him politically exposed.

The dispute comes as the absence of VAR continues to attract criticism in the PSL, particularly following a number of contentious tackles and refereeing decisions since the start of the season.

News24 reported that the department and SAFA were both subjected to intense questioning in Parliament over the delays, with the two sides eventually presenting a more united position on the need to get VAR implemented.

McKenzie has apologised to South Africans over the failure to deliver on his earlier commitment that VAR would be introduced.

“I want to apologise to every South African I have let down.”

He said the funds had not been spent and that he would not pretend that the rollout was progressing when it was not.

The minister has also warned that if SAFA fails to provide a credible plan, government could recover the money and explore alternative ways of introducing VAR into South African football.

Recent reporting indicates that SAFA has been given until 9 September to account for the funds and provide a workable plan for the implementation of VAR. The Star reported that the department had confirmed that R20 million remained untouched, with the association given additional time to complete its internal processes.

The parliamentary hearing also raised broader concerns about SAFA’s administration.

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