GOAL GFXOngoing questionable officiating decisions continuously ignites debate, with fans, pundits and even South Africa’s Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie vowing for the introduction of VAR to the PSL.
But is VAR truly the solution to South Africa’s refereeing woes, or are we about to open a Pandora’s box of new problems?
Here, GOAL delves into the global VAR experience and why fans should brace for more frustration than fairness.
AFPVAR was meant to bring clarity, but instead, it has led to chaos in stadiums worldwide. In the English Premier League, which has used VAR for seven seasons, in-stadium fans remain in the dark, enduring long delays with little to no communication. Imagine the scene at a packed Orlando Stadium if Pirates were awarded a last-minute penalty, only for a five-minute VAR review to overturn it. The confusion, anger and loss of momentum would be a disaster for the live match experience.
Instead of improving the spectacle, VAR often leaves fans frustrated, with lengthy reviews killing the energy of the game. If one of the world’s richest leagues can’t get it right, what chance does the PSL have?
GOAL GFXMany believe VAR will improve PSL refereeing, but history suggests otherwise. Even with VAR, officiating in the English Premier League remains a weekly controversy, with decisions dissected and debated long after the final whistle. South Africa's Rhulani Mokwena at Wydad Casablanca has voiced concerns that VAR hasn’t improved referee standards in the Botola Pro League.
VAR does not make referees better - it merely highlights their mistakes in HD. Without a well-structured refereeing development system, adding VAR will not magically fix South Africa’s officiating woes.
Gayton McKenzieVAR is expensive. Fifa estimates the cost of setting up a full VAR system at R50 million per season - a massive financial commitment for a league already dealing with funding challenges. The PSL’s referees are appointed and funded by Safa, an organization facing financial turmoil.
Where will the money for VAR come from? Will it drain club subsidies, meaning less funding for development, infrastructure and salaries? Without proper technical expertise, who will operate and maintain the system? If VAR is implemented without a sustainable plan, it risks becoming an expensive failure.
GettyNot every league has fallen into the VAR trap. Sweden outright rejected VAR, arguing that it disrupts the natural flow of the game, diminishes the overall fan experience, and places an unnecessary financial burden on clubs.
Even in England, where VAR has been in use for years, clubs have openly debated whether to scrap the system altogether due to its persistent controversies, inconsistent decisions, and the frustration it has caused among players, managers, and supporters alike. These ongoing struggles should serve as a serious warning for the domestic league, prompting a critical reassessment of whether VAR is truly enhancing the game or merely adding to its problems.
GOALSouth African football finds itself at a crucial crossroads, where the need to improve refereeing standards has become more evident than ever. However, introducing VAR is not the ultimate solution that many believe it to be.
While technology can assist in decision-making, it comes with its own set of complications as it's been pointed out. Implementing VAR would be a risky move that may create more problems than it solves. Instead of depending on technology as a quick fix, the focus should be on investing in referee development programs, enhancing training initiatives and ensuring that match officials have the necessary skills, knowledge and resources to make accurate and consistent decisions on the field.
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