COMMENT BY HERMAN GIBBS
In successive weeks, the FNB and Moses Mabhida Stadiums were packed to the rafters, but urgent calls for VAR (video assistant referee) overshadowed a celebration of the PSL’s extraordinary pulling power.
Among those joining the chorus was Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, who was shaken by the anguished cries of distressed fans following refereeing controversies in the Chiefs-Sundowns and Pirates-Stellenbosch matches.
This outcry forced McKenzie to act, and recently he met with Safa and the PSL to resolve the matter.
McKenzie has shown an unrivalled sensitivity to the plight of the sporting fraternity. A few weeks ago, he was reminded that the long-awaited clash between the Springboks and the All Blacks would only be shown on SuperSport.
McKenzie said this was inherently wrong, and met with MultiChoice and SABC to secure a free transmission for everyone. Before the meeting, McKenzie had no idea of broadcasting costs.
Afterwards, McKenzie said MultiChoice had agreed to make the broadcast available to SABC at great expense.
The saga was glossed over by saying the once-off agreement marked an historic occasion celebrating 30 years of democracy. Hence, the SABC had the right to broadcast the iconic match.
Nothing has come of McKenzie’s promise that Bok matches would be screened by the public broadcaster in future as he knows SABC cannot pay for the MultiChoice feed.
The SA Football Association and PSL were not honest with McKenzie at the time of their meeting.
There are three primary players for providing VAR in local football. They are Safa, PSL and broadcaster MultiChoice. Each of these three parties will be required to fork out loads of money so that VAR can be implemented.
In South Africa’s case, the process starts with Safa. They must appoint full-time referees, train VAR officials and ensure that there are staff to implement VAR at venues around the country.
By now, Safa still don’t have full-time referees, and this may be why they under-perform.
Safa will be responsible for VAR training for officials, and this can be a costly exercise.
Bafana Bafana, unlike the Springboks, are not a world-class team, so corporate South Africa is not rushing to sponsor their guardians, Safa.
🔍 ℂ𝕆ℝℝ𝔼ℂ𝕋 || 𝕀ℕℂ𝕆ℝℝ𝔼ℂ𝕋 🔎
𝚅𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛 "𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚊𝚕" 𝙷𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚒 𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚝!
🚨 LIVE
📺 SABC Sport
📱 SABC+
🌐 https://t.co/26PdrPrnVE #SABCSportFootball #Soccerzone pic.twitter.com/vrYyA04Jlj
Since refereeing falls under the Safa umbrella, they will be the ones buying the VAR equipment.
The PSL play a role at the venues where VAR equipment must be installed.
But none of the PSL clubs own their home grounds, which are usually leased from the local municipality.
Just like the PSL, or its club, pays for the venues they use, they will be required to foot the bill to make the facility VAR-ready, and a dedicated space for VAR staff.
Many PSL clubs are living hand-to-mouth, and will disappear without monthly grants.
MultiChoice have to supply a minimum of 16 cameras at a match, and this results in additional production staff that will push up expenses far beyond the usual cost of providing a regular broadcast.
MultiChoice have been taking a hammering in recent months because of a loss of subscribers.
In all three cases, none of the three parties have the funds to roll out the costly VAR and none of them are losing sleep about it either.
The PSL is so cash-strapped that after their CEO Brand de Villiers resigned in 2015, they have been unable to afford another, with Golden Arrows boss Mato Madlala acting in the position since.