This season more than most, there have been several questionable decisions by the match officials in games across the DStv Premiership and domestic cup competitions, intensifying the call for Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
The PSL’s top brass previously hinted that they may consider bringing VAR to local football as discussions – at least at a less formal level – are ongoing. PSL chairman, Irvin Khoza is open to the idea, but admits that costs might be a hurdle.
AmaZulu mentor, Franco, felt hard done in a couple of games this season, particularly in ties with Orlando Pirates in the league and the Nedbank Cup semi-final. However, he does not sound entirely sold by the idea of VAR.
“I played in Africa with VAR and I was cheated with VAR. It is something that can be used to make football more fair or used to make football unfair. With the experience of VAR in Europe, sometimes you realize that it is more controversial,” said Franco.
“When a referee is blowing or not blowing their whistle, it ends there, but when some of the referees change their mind or are going for a review and the review is not clear, because sometimes there are situations that are subjective.
“Sometimes you can see it as a penalty and I don’t see it as a penalty, so it can be controversial. But if you are using it with good purpose it is great, but VAR is nothing that is going to change football because we already have this experience in Europe,” Franco added.
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Referee of the Season nominees: pic.twitter.com/S2hyqUOKlo
Instead of implementing VAR Franco is of the view that the South African Football Association – which supplies the PSL with match officials – needs to invest in the development of referees.
In South Africa, referring is not a professionalized gig as SAFA match officials execute their duties under part-time working conditions.
“Watching this year’s Africa Cup of Nations and comparing it with previous editions, I think VAR was more fair. It helped avoid crazy situations which we have seen so many times in that competition. It is a matter of trying, education and investment.
“The referee sometimes don’t have the tools to get better and better, and I understand when you are not getting much money, you cannot be going for fitness (all the time), doing preparation, doing reviews of the games.
“All these things must come from SAFA because if you increase the level and education of referees, the refereeing in the games is going to be higher,” the former Simba head coach added.
In recent times, Mamelodi Sundowns are the only South African team who have played matches with VAR on board as the latter stages of the CAF Champions League deploys modern technology, while the African Football League also housed VAR in its games.
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