McKenzie demands R20m return from SAFA over VAR delay

South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has demanded the return of R20 million in state funding from the South African Football Association (SAFA), citing the football governing body's failure to implement the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system despite receiving the money. The demand was made during a heated parliamentary committee hearing on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, where McKenzie accused SAFA of ignoring correspondence and leaving him politically exposed.

The confrontation occurred before the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, where SAFA officials were questioned about the stalled VAR rollout and other administrative issues. McKenzie told members of Parliament that he had formally requested the funds be returned after SAFA missed its deadline to introduce VAR ahead of the new Premier Soccer League season. "I have been dragged in the media, and it seems like SAFA does not care," McKenzie stated. "We then wrote a letter to SAFA, which was ignored. That's where I lost it. How do you ignore me after receiving my money?"

According to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the R20 million was transferred to SAFA on March 6, 2026, as the first tranche of...