In a huge development, South Africa’s Minister of Sport has announced that the country is set to introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the country’s Premier Soccer League(PSL).
Minister Gayton McKenzie said that the country is taking all necessary measure required for the system to be implemented in the country’s major soccer league.
The technology is yet to find a service provider in the country and an bid advertisement will soon be made in the media to invite all interested providers to submit their tender bids.
McKenzie said that their aim was that the VAR technology is introduced in line with all the FIFA regulations and standards. According to FIFA rules, the technology must be introduced through a country’s sports association not the ministry. In this case the sports association for South Africa is Safa.
“We are committed to ensuring that VAR is introduced in line with Fifa regulations,” McKenzie said, on his social media handle. “The money is available, and the necessary training for referees has also been budgeted for. With the collaboration of Safa and the PSL.”
The introduction of VAR in the South African premier league will be a huge step in improving decision makings made by match officials and also help minimize human error.
The country will be the fourth country to introduce the technology in Africa, joining Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt who have adopted the VAR system.
