Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie says introducing video assistant referee VAR system in South African professional football is likely to cost R90 million or less.
McKenzie revealed the estimate in a recent written reply to a question by Rise Mzansi member of Parliament Makashule Gana .
VAR to cost R90 million in South AfricaThe Department has set aside a budget of around R90 million towards the establishment of this project of the video refereeing system. It is probable that the amount could come in at less than this, the Minister said.
In April, the South African Football Federation SAFA put out a request for proposal RFP for VAR, marking a major step in the systems establishment in the country.
SAFA invites proposals from qualified vendors for the supply of VAR equipment, the preparation of VAR training programmes, and the training of video and match officials, the RFP stated.
This initiative aims to enhance the accuracy and fairness of officiating in Premier Soccer League PSL matches and selected National Team matches.
SAFA has received about a dozen proposals, McKenzie said. However, the procurement process has not yet started. A proposal evaluation committee is being put together by SAFA and they will evaluate the proposals that were submitted to SAFA, most likely in early June, he added.
The Department is still to engage further with SAFA, agree on all matters related to this system and then enter into an agreement to implement the VAR system.
The maintenance of the system is yet to be determined, and this will be contained in the memorandum of agreement, once finalised.
The Department and SAFA envisage that the system would include goal-line technology, the Minister said.