SAFA Chairperson of Referees Provide Update on VAR

SAFA Chairperson of Referees Provide Update on VAR

South Africa Football Association Chairperson of Referees Victor Gomes has provided an update about Video Assistant Referee, VAR. This comes after some questionable decisions that have been taken by some referees in matches.

The call for PSL to have VAR in the league is continuing after some poor officiating in the DStv Premiership.

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The recent match between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-finals second league have been under scrutiny after Amakhosi were not awarded a penalty.

But Gomes has insisted that VAR will be available in South Africa before the end of the current season and will be used in the Nedbank Cup final for the first time.

VICTOR GOMES ISSUE UPDATE ON VAR

“VAR will arrive before the close of the season and might be used in the Nedbank Cup final,” says Gomes.

“What I’m aiming for is to do our cup final with VAR this year – the Nedbank Cup. When we have evidence that an error in judgment took place, we need to take responsibility and we need to try and understand why this error in judgment took place,” Gomes told Marawa Sports Worldwide.

“So, there’s always a lot of emotion that goes into the game and stuff, and this is why we have a review committee that sits on a Tuesday night and on a Thursday night.

“I think it’s a five to seven committee that analyses the clip, and they also go through it with the official. VAR technology in football is very young compared to Rugby. I think the leadership at FIFA and CAF is guiding us in the right direction. I think we’re moving very fast and moving towards this type of thinking,” Gomes said.

“There are constant changes all the time, I think we’re getting closer. We’re working on it.

Two weeks ago, SAFA suspended referee of the season Luxolo Badi after poor officiating. Another referee who is likely to be suspended could be Abongile Tom. He officiated in the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates vs Mamelodi Sundowns.

By Katleho Hlalele 

Gomes off to Spain for refereeing programme

Gomes off to Spain for refereeing programme

New SAFA Referees Committee chairperson, Victor Gomes has been invited to a seminar for FIFA referees and fitness instructors. The seminar takes place in Madrid, Spain, from 27-31 March 2023.

ALSO READ: VAR implementation plans still on track for SAFA

VICTOR GOMES INVITED TO A REFEREEING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The invitation is from FIFA’s director of refereeing, Massimo Busacca. Busacca together with the Head of refereeing administration, Patrick Graf, and Dominic Chielens, the FIFA refereeing manager, said the seminar is part of the world football governing body FIFA’s Refereeing Development Programme.

VAR ON THE PIPELINE FOR SA FOOTBALL 

SAFA has stepped up efforts to establish the VAR within the local professional league. Gomes said he will take advantage of this seminar to interact with global individuals on how to accelerate the establishment of the VAR process in the country.

ALSO READ: SAFA appoint Victor Gomes to top position 

Lately, SAFA has met with both CAF and FIFA leaders to take the process forward. 

Both Gomes and SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan are keen to see this historic project get off the ground.

SAFA SEND CONDOLENCES TO MTOLO FAMILY  AND RICHARDS BAY 

Meanwhile, SAFA has joined the SA football fraternity and offered some words of comfort and sympathy to the family of Richards Bay midfielder Siphamandla Mtolo after the midfielder’s passing on Tuesday. Mtolo collapsed during training on Tuesday morning and passed away.

ALSO READ: PSL player Mtolo collapsed and die during a training session

He had been with the KwaZulu-Natal for the past three years after joining them from Motsepe Foundation Championship team Uthongathi FC.

“We as the South African Football Association would like to convey our sincerest condolences, deepest sympathy and heartfelt sorrow to his family, friends and the club during this difficult time.”

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SAFA appoint Victor Gomes to top position 

SAFA appoint Victor Gomes to top position 

The South African Football Association (SAFA) have appointed former FIFA referee Victor Gomes as the chair of their referees committee.

Gomes takes over from SAFA vice president Natasha Tsichlas who has been in charge for a while now. 

This is on line with FIFA’s requirement that the chair of the referees committee must be a former elite referee.

VICTOR GOMES ELATED BY NEW TOP POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES 

‘’I want to thank SAFA and especially the President [Dr Danny Jordaan] for the trust entrusted to me with this appointment,’’ said Gomes.

‘’I will put the same commitment in this job with the same professionalism I showed during my days as the referee,.”

Gomez added that implementing VAR was one of the several priorities which he wanted to get down to.

The charismatic former official retired after the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar last year. 

Amongst others, he has handled the Afcon final between Senegal and Egypt in Cameroon, the CAF Champions League final between Al Ahly and Wydad AC at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. 

Gomez was one of the few African referees appointed to officiate at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

SAFA TO HOST SCHOLLS TOURNAMENT 

Meanwhile, the football motherbody has been approached by CAF to host the Schools tournament. The tournament will take place in Durban in April.

The SAFA NEC sat on Friday, 17 February 2023 at Radisson Hotel in Kempton Park.

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