“Long Overdue”: World Cup-Bound Referee Drops Honest Truth On South Africa’s VAR Drama

South African referee Abongile Tom has described the ongoing discussion around the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in South African football as long overdue.

VAR has been one of the most debated topics in local football, with fans and clubs frequently criticising its absence. Many have argued that the lack of VAR has benefited certain teams while disadvantaging others, particularly in controversial match incidents.

Tom, who has himself faced criticism from supporters over some of his officiating decisions, acknowledged that mistakes are part of the game and suggested that the absence of VAR has contributed to some contentious calls made by referees.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has repeatedly indicated in recent months that plans to introduce VAR are progressing and that the technology will soon be implemented in the country.

Tom said the conversation around VAR is long overdue and expressed confidence that the technology will be introduced in South Africa in the near future.

“It’s a conversation that I think is long overdue,” said Tom.

“We’ve been talking about it for the past few years. We are just waiting for it to come in. We can no longer keep talking about the conversation; we need to see action, and I feel like we are very close.

“We just need to wait patiently for when it arrives, and when it does, it should make our jobs a bit easier.”

Meanwhile, Tom will be flying the South African flag alongside Bafana Bafana after being selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

He will be joined by fellow South African Zakhele Siwela, who has been appointed as an assistant referee for the tournament.

The pair joins the likes of Jerome Damon and Victor Gomes among the South African officials who have officiated at the FIFA World Cup.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana will open their World Cup campaign against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on 11 June.