SAFA, PSL sub-committee progressing in VAR talks

This was revealed to SABC Sport by SAFA’s head of referees Abdul Ebrahim. 

Over the past week, SAFA president Danny Jordaan and PSL chairman Irvin Khoza spoke about the delays behind VAR’s introduction in SA football, but Ebrahim says there will be some positive developments in the next two weeks.

"The referees department has provided a budget for the extensive training of match officials, [after] we were advised in the joint liaison meeting that a sub-committee needs to be formed, and we are hoping to finalise a date over the next week or two to actually map the way forward," revealed Ebrahim.

"Ultimately, when the meetings are done, the committee will then present the report to the president Dr Jordaan, as well as the chairperson of the League Dr Khoza, so that ultimately they can make the final decision based on the sub-committee's recommendations."

The VAR sub-committee is made up of Ebrahim, SAFA national referees committee chairperson Victor Gomes, SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao, PSL acting CEO Mato Madlala and head of legal Michael Murphy. 

The first step towards this implementation would be the VAR training of match officials, and Ebrahim says they are ready to go ahead, pending approval from the principals.

"I'd like to think we are ready to do that kind of training – we've got highly skilled FIFA-trained VAR instructors in our chairperson, Victor Gomes, and in Jerome Damon," he added.

"They've been through courses with CAF, they've even conducted VAR courses themselves – Jerome Damon just recently finished the VAR course at the COSAFA Cup.

"So we have the personnel, all we have to do is bring in, maybe, one or two people from FIFA or CAF to oversee the process, and as soon as the meetings are done and the recommendations are made then I believe we are ready for the next step."

READ: SAFA disappointed by PSL clubs’ lack of interest in Laws of the Game update