The introduction of Video Assistant Referee: is the Premier Soccer League ready?

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By Mahlomola Martin Lefupana
















The 2019/2020 football season is only three month old, yet, the complaints about poor match officiating is at an alarming rate. Top coaches and clubs officials in the country including multiple winning league coaches like Pitso Mosimane, Gavin Hunt, Benni Mccarthy, Owen de Game and others have decried poor match officiating in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) competitions. The match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs was headlined as the battle for top spot, but Pitso Mosimane was on record accusing Chiefs benefits from poor match officiating. His assertion of poor match officiating was proven right, when Chiefs was controversially awarded a goal that looked offside.  This begs the question, is the PSL ready for Video Assistant Referee (VAR)?

Whilst the answer to the question might be an obvious yes, given the relative successful implementation of the VAR practice in FIFA and CAF competitions, including in Asia and European leagues, there are several implications including high cost, stadium ownership and training to be considered. VAR in football is used to determine contentious issues such as the award of goals and penalties, decisions over direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity. VAR is designed to help reduce human errors by on pitch referees and ensure digital technology enhances the rate of correct call on incidents. While the introduction of VAR in football practices was initially met with skepticism from traditional football loving public for lack of communication to fans in stadium, slowing momentum and hampering excitement in football matches, there is a sense that its value is getting traction among majority of fans and the technology based platform is here to stay.

Football is inherently a controversial sports, it divide and unite people in equal measure, therefore, VAR is not solution to all football errors, but the technology has brought some level of justice to the game.  













The high level of referring errors in South Africa football has been on the spotlight for a while with referees often suspended for poor match officiating and perhaps it is time to introduction of VAR help on pitch referees. The introduction of VAR is relatively high on cost with an estimated R3.2 million for installation in one stadium depending on size. This might prove difficult in South Africa given that few clubs own stadium or have one base as their home ground. The PSL clubs uses over 20 stadiums for league and cup competitions per season, thus, it will require invest of around R64 million per season in 20 stadiums.

With PSL an autonomous body from SAFA, who are responsible for referees training and subsequently equipment such as VAR, it might be a challenge for both bodies to agree on how this should be done going forward. Whether SAFA has the financial capital to invest in VAR remains unknown.

Since the introduction of the VAR in the last few season, many errors have been reduced. South Africa football at PSL level has enormous opportunity for growth for business and the introduction of VAR can serve as continuous product improvement. The VAR will also improve the referee’s ability to officiate football matches with confidence that he/she makes mistake the technology will assist in correcting the errors. The world is moving into digital technology and introduction of VAR in South African football will indicate adaptation to changing environment. As Africa’s biggest league by revenue, the PSL can certainly be the leader in the introduction of VAR in African leagues. 

Photo credit: Getty Images /FIFA

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