Gayton McKenzie washes his hands with VAR – and the DA isn’t happy

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie is facing renewed criticism over delays in introducing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to South African football, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) accusing him of failing to take responsibility for the project.

In a statement, DA spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture Leah Potgieter MP said McKenzie had failed to account for the delays and accused him of abandoning a promise to bring VAR to local football.

The criticism follows a media briefing where McKenzie reportedly said: “There are no more questions you can ask me about VAR.”

According to Potgieter, the minister’s remarks effectively leave the project almost entirely in the hands of the South African Football Association (SAFA).

R20 million at the centre of VAR controversy

The DA has raised concerns about the reported R20 million allocated to the project, claiming the money remains with SAFA while progress on implementing VAR has been limited.

Potgieter argued that Gayton McKenzie cannot distance himself from the project because a commitment was made and public funds were allocated.

“Unfortunately for Minister McKenzie, he can’t wash his hands of it. A commitment was made, and public money was allocated,” she said.

The party also criticised what it described as a lack of accountability from the minister, arguing that football supporters and players have been left waiting for a promised improvement to the game.

VAR technology allows match officials to review certain incidents, including goals, penalty decisions, direct red-card incidents and cases of mistaken identity.

Its potential introduction in South Africa has been a significant talking point among football supporters, particularly amid recurring debates over refereeing decisions in domestic competitions.

DA questions McKenzie’s accountability

Potgieter accused Gayton McKenzie of making public commitments without demonstrating sufficient progress towards delivering them.

She said South African football supporters deserved answers about the delays and the future of the project.

The DA’s statement places renewed pressure on both the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and SAFA to clarify the status of the VAR rollout, how the allocated funds are being used and what remains to be done before the technology can be introduced.

The statement did not provide a revised implementation date.

The outstanding questions include when VAR will become operational in South African football and what accountability measures will apply to the project.

McKenzie’s reported comments and the DA’s criticism have renewed the debate over responsibility for delivering the technology and ensuring that public funds allocated to the initiative translate into tangible progress.

Do you think VAR will ever be introduced into South African football?