Update On VAR Rollout In PSL After Manqoba’s Rant

The Siya Crew has been given an update on the VAR rollout in the PSL. Photo: Gallo Images

Following Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi’s rant around VAR after defeat to Kaizer Chiefs, the Siya crew has the update on the rollout of the technology in the PSL.

Mngqithi was fuming after Arrows suffered a 1-0 to Chiefs a week ago, after Aden McCarthy scored from what appeared to be an offside position.

“First thing I can tell you is that the PSL will forever have issues for as long as this issue of VAR is not taken care of, the stakes are very high,” Mngqithi said, in part, in his post-match interview on SuperSport TV.

READ: Fuming Manqoba Calls For VAR After Chiefs’ ‘Offside’ Goal

“And we lose the game nobody cares, we concede goals, people are saying you concede goals because you don’t defend well but the reality is the league must work very hard on working on this thing. The game has become too dynamic.

“It demands we must respond to that, we’re not playing for R500, 000, we’re playing for R20 million so we should be considering, looking into this thing of VAR, otherwise we will keep losing matches like this and people will be okay with it,” an irate Mngqithi said.

The last update from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture was around mid-November 2025, in a report back after a VAR rollout “fact-finding mission” in Spain.

There were four companies that were shortlisted as potential service providers, while the next step involved finding final quotations for hardware, software and operational costs.

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie had announced that the National Treasury approved an initial allocation of R20 million to support the rollout.

The ministry also announced that, together with SAFA, they are targeting this season’s Nedbank Cup semi-finals and the final, to pilot the VAR rollout in the country, before going full scale in the 2026/27 season.

In search of the latest update, the Siya crew has been assured by a high-ranking official at SAFA that the project team assigned with implementing and rolling out VAR in the PSL is on track.

READ: Mnqgithi: The Game Has Become Too Dynamic

“The rollout of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is on track. A dedicated VAR project team is currently in place and working around the clock to finalize technology procurement and to ensure that the required infrastructure meets international standards,” the official said.

“This (project) team is also going to oversee the rigorous training of officials to guarantee that the system’s debut is seamless and professional. Following the pilot, the objective remains a full-scale implementation,” the source added.

The VAR project is led by former PSL and FIFA referee Daniel Bennett.

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