Katlego Sekhu

In March this year, newly-appointed SAFA Referees Committee Chair, Victor Gomes, said that the implementation of the VAR ( Video Assistant Referee) process was of the ‘highest priority’ within the football structures.
SAFA’s administrators have been in contact with CAF and FIFA. During the FIFA Symposium in Paris, France, Dr Jordaan met with retired Italian referee Pierluigi Collina, who is now FIFA’s Referees Committee Chair. The Italian legend agreed to visit South Africa and help set up the VAR structures.
On June 27, SAFA revealed that they moved closer to the implementation of VAR programme and has written a letter to the World football governing body FIFA, spelling out the Association’s plans.
In the letter to FIFA, SAFA has provided the itemized costs of the programme, including those of VAR training, referees, technical staff, and equipment.
“We sent a letter to FIFA about our intention to implement the VAR process and the world football governing body has confirmed receipt of the letter and will most likely respond to our correspondence anytime from now. They will give us direction on the way forward,’’ said head of referees, Abdul Ebrahim.
Victor Gomes says the letter to FIFA was to seek advice and inform them that the Association was ready to proceed to the next stage of the project.
“We have been working hard to get this project off the ground. When I was appointed the SAFA Referees Committee chair, one of my main priorities was to introduce VAR and I am glad to say, soon this will be a reality,’’ said Gomes.
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