South Africa’s Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has issued a sharp ultimatum to the South African Football Association (SAFA), demanding the immediate return of state funds allocated for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
Speaking after the South African Sport Awards at Sun City, McKenzie expressed deep frustration over the stalled project. He revealed that SAFA requested a 21-day period to respond to his formal demand, but that deadline has passed with neither the funds returned nor the technology implemented.
- Minister’s Stance: McKenzie emphasized his duty to safeguard public funds, stating he has done “everything humanly possible” to bring VAR to South African football.
- Escalation to FIFA: Having failed to reach a resolution directly with SAFA, McKenzie confirmed plans to officially escalate the matter to FIFA.
- Allegations: The Minister raised concerns over potential corruption within SAFA regarding the handling of state money, though these claims remain unproven.
With public pressure mounting, SAFA now faces urgent calls to account for the missing funding and clarify the status of domestic VAR implementation.
