South African football is inching closer to a major technological shift, and the pressure is on. As the South African Football Association (SAFA) prepares to brief the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture’s portfolio committee, the organisation has made one thing clear: it wants the real thing. Not VAR Lite. Not shortcuts. Full VAR.
And leading the charge is former FIFA referee Daniel Bennett, who now heads SAFA’s VAR project team. His message is simple and firm. South Africa cannot afford to lag behind the footballing heavyweights of North Africa any longer.
A Race Against Time
Bennett wrapped up a crucial trip to Madrid, where he visited the Royal Spanish Football Federation headquarters to observe a full VAR setup during a Spanish Segunda División match. The experience, he says, only cemented his belief.
When he returns to South Africa, there will barely be time to unpack. An urgent Monday meeting awaits because Tuesday’s parliamentary briefing is expected to scrutinise VAR plans heavily. Bennett wants every detail polished.
Why SAFA Won’t Entertain VAR Lite
There has been growing debate over whether the Premier Soccer League (PSL) should start with the cheaper VAR Lite system, which operates with only four cameras. Bennett isn’t having it, as he believes a league of the PSL’s stature deserves better.
“VAR Lite won’t support our league,” he said. “PSL needs the full VAR. What we saw in Spain was impressive. That’s the level we must strive for.”
This stance taps into a long-standing frustration among South African fans, who have watched VAR reshape football across the world while local refereeing controversies continue unchecked. Many supporters have applauded SAFA’s refusal to compromise, saying the PSL should have implemented VAR years ago.
Building Local Capacity
Part of SAFA’s fact-finding trip was facilitated by Quality Media, one of FIFA’s seven recognised VAR suppliers. Their president, Pablo Reyes, has worked on multiple African projects and sees huge untapped potential on the continent. Reyes says the vision is not just to deliver technology but to help build local expertise.
“We want to create local employment and attract people to one of the most exciting innovations of the 21st century,” he explained.
That commitment to skills development could be a gamechanger for South Africa, which has often relied on international expertise for major sporting innovations. Training local production crews would also align with government priorities of job creation within the creative and sports sectors.
South Africa’s Football Future Hinges On This Decision
For SAFA, choosing full VAR is about more than catching up with global standards. It’s a statement about ambition. A declaration that South African football deserves world-class systems, not diluted versions.
With Tuesday’s parliamentary meeting looming, the stakes are high. The final decision will shape the future of refereeing, broadcasting technology and overall fairness in the PSL.
And for many football fans, who have endured one too many dubious offside calls, the timing could not be better. South Africa wants the real deal. And SAFA is finally ready to fight for it.
Source: SABC Sport
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