Head of Referees at the South African Football Association, Abdul Ebrahim has revealed what's currently delaying the use of Video Assistant Referees in the country.
Word reaching this publication is that both SAFA and the PSL are pushing to have VAR implemented in Mzansi.
Ebrahim tells KickOff: "Finance questions I cannot answer, but I'm putting a budget together, so that we can see the costs applicable, and it will be discussed at the joint liaison meeting."
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"It depends on if the budget is approved. As soon as it is approved, then we can go ahead and put in place what needs to be put in place. Of course from the refereeing side, we are all positive that it's going to happen. This is why we are now starting to pay for everything in place," he adds.
Ebrahim says South African football's mother body will be ready in the event that VAR is introduced on these shores.
"It's a slow start, but once everything starts, we will hit the ground running. We had [the] Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates Derby, which is a perfect example. SuperSport and the SABC are both geared up to provide the number of camera assistants or the vehicles we need to use.
"I mean, we have world-class stadiums from the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It's just a matter of doing final inspections and seeing [that] what we have in place meets every requirement of the FIFA IAAP [Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme]."
The refereeing guru explains that clubs will not be forced to leave their home grounds, as VAR can be set up anywhere as long as electricity and Wi-Fi can work perfectly.
"We could use any stadium. Where there are no stands, it shouldn't be a problem because scaffolding can be set up.
"All the boxes will need to be ticked, and I'm sure we've got 80% of the boxes ticked already. So, once the budget is approved and we are given a go-ahead, then obviously there will be a training taking place, and the league will sit down and look at what stadiums will need to be used.
"So, it's a lot of work that needs to be done, which is why VAR cannot be just around tomorrow.
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"It's a process, and we need everybody to buy into that process, but for now it's positive. We first need to get budgetary approval that it's a viable exercise in South African football, which we believe it is."
