The South African Sports Ministry risks the country's football being banned by FIFA over third-party interference after a recent VAR intervention.
This followed a controversial 2-1 win by Mamelodi Sundowns over Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership, where Iqraam Rayners' became the subject of animated debate due to the possibility of offside on the part of assist king Lucas Ribeiro Costa.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie wrote on his X account that he would hold meetings with PSL and SAFA to speed up the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the country.
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"All football loving fans know that the time for VAR has arrived in SA football. We need VAR we need it now, those meetings start now because we are not a 10th world country. I shall report back soonest after meeting SAFA the PSL this week," McKenzie wrote, a day after that match.
After a week passed, he gave an update on the same platform, informing the public that the meeting took place.
"Great work has been done by both SAFA PSL in making VAR a possibility. We spoke to both Dr Danny Jordaan Dr Khoza, I went through the presentation finance required, I was also contacted by the team that brought VAR to the English Premier league. We will soon report in detail."
FIFA has a non-interference principle in their statutes, which guards against political interference in football matters.
The world football governing body has rules which protect the independence of member associations, and third-party interference could lead to a country's suspension from all football activities.
According to article 2(2) of the FIFA statutes, "Government interference of any kind in the electoral process or composition of the elective body of the association is not permitted. Consequently, government rules on elections shall not apply to the elected internal bodies of the association and the electoral rules of the association shall not require the approval of any government body."
Crucially, article 15 (c) of the FIFA rules states it clearly that ANY form of political interference has to be avoided.
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"Member associations' statutes must comply with the principles of good governance and shall in particular contain, at a minimum, make provisions relating to the independence of the member association and avoidance of any form of political interference."
As a consequence of breaching FIFA statutes on third-party interference, particularly political interference in football matters, associations such as Indian Football Federation (AIFF), Zimbabwean Football Association (ZIFA), Chad, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have all been previously suspended, for a particular period, in recent years.