Following the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture's proposal to fund the rollout of the Video Assistant Referee system in the PSL, the maintaince costs of the system, per game, have been revealed.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has promised to make the VAR a reality in the PSL, with his Department proposing a R90 million budget for the process to finally take place.
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The League and SAFA formed a joint-liaison committee to procure funds, as the ad-hoc body put their hopes on the Motsepe Foundation to assist, before the intervention by McKenzie.
However, even though the Department of Sports has committed to get the ball rolling in getting the system installed in PSL matches, there was a gray area on how much it would cost to operate the equipment, which has to be approved by FIFA, and who would carry that cost.
After appearing before the Sport, Arts and Culture Portfolio Commitee this week, SAFA reported in Parliament that to run the VAR in the PSL would cost on average R70 000 per match.
With around 240 matches in the PSL per season, including cup matches, that would amount to around R16, 8 million per campaign, which SAFA told Parliament is the amount they budgeted for, excluding all other costs of buying the equipment from the supplier and training of match officials and staff.
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And through their technical experts, the association said they are not aware how the Sport ministry got to that figure but that from their knowledge, they have been quoted between R8 million and R12 million by two different suppliers of the equipment.
SAFA also indicated there will be extra costs for a six-week training of officials, instructors, operators, project leads, including accommodation.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
