After Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie gave an update on the funding for VAR, SAFA Head of Referees Abdul Ebrahim has hinted on when the system can be implemented.
With barely three weeks before the new PSL season gets underway, there have been concerns that the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be delayed, amidst assurances by McKenzie.
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"My task was to make money available. FIFA requires it to happen through SAFA. We are sitting with SAFA this week to finalise bids that are in and then put in the company that has won (the bid) to do VAR," McKenzie said in a media briefing post his budget speech.
"I've done my bit, SAFA is now doing their bit, so we've got no doubt that VAR will be with us."
Ebrahim has suggested that VAR could start to feature in the latter stages of cup competitions this season, although unlikely to be rolled out in time for the MTN8, with six weeks training of referees required and administrative hurdles to navigate.
"The good news I can give you is that a tender committee has been put in place, the tender committee will be meeting shortly to go through the tenders submitted by various companies and hopefully this is the first step towards VAR," Ebrahim said on Metro FM Sports.
"But it's very important that we follow implementation assistants and approval programme that FIFA have written, it's very important for us to have a project manager in place, so we can have a kick-off meeting with FIFA and start the journey with VAR.
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The MTN8 quarterfinals will usher in the new season during the first week of August.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
