By Charmaine Ndlela
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has warned that failure to implement Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology next season could signal corruption, insisting government has already transferred the funds to the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Speaking at a media briefing at Freedom Park in Pretoria on Thursday, McKenzie said there are no financial grounds for further delays.
“If there’s no VAR next year in SAFA, then there’s corruption… then there are people benefiting from the absence of VAR in this country,” he said.
He stressed that the department had fulfilled its obligations.
“What more can I do? I’ve done everything that I can do,” he said, adding that responsibility now rests with SAFA.
McKenzie said evolving global football regulations – influenced by former Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger in his role as the FIFA Chief of Global Football Development— make VAR increasingly indispensable.
“The new rules necessitate countries
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