'There are two officials blocking VAR at SAFA House'
by Clifton Mabasa · KickOffSports Minister Gayton McKenzie has turned up the heat on SAFA, claiming two officials within the association are standing in the way of VAR being introduced in the PSL.
McKenzie has become increasingly frustrated by the continued delay, and has now suggested that the problem goes beyond SAFA president Danny Jordaan.
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The outspoken government official has claimed certain officials at SAFA are taking advantage of the fact that Jordaan is often blamed for the association's problems.
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McKenzie points to two officials
McKenzie has revealed that he has identified two SAFA officials whom he believes are responsible for blocking the VAR project.
"There are some gatekeepers there in SAFA, corrupt, that doesn't want VAR to happen, because how do you explain your minister putting money forward and it's not coming?" McKenzie told journalists.
"I'm telling you, when I went to SAFA, there's two officials, I'm getting their names and I'm going to name them, that is blocking this thing. Corrupt to the core."
McKenzie stopped short of naming the officials publicly but warned that he intends to reveal their identities.
Danny Jordaan not to be blamed
Interestingly, McKenzie was adamant that Jordaan should not be blamed for the latest impasse, arguing that officials within SAFA are responsible for preventing progress.
"The problem you see in SAFA, there's one problem I have picked up. All the problems of SAFA gets blamed on Danny Jordaan," he said.
"There are people within SAFA who take advantage of the fact that people are going to blame Danny and Danny allows that."
Going through necessary processes
McKenzie insists he has followed the necessary processes to help get VAR implemented, including securing approval from Treasury.
"What is stopping this thing? What is stopping VAR? What more can I do? I have sent them with the money of the state to go and look at the different options," he added.
"They came back, I followed the processes. I asked Treasury, can I please give this money? Treasury gave me the go ahead.
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"The trouble I went through, but now it's not happening. And I can tell you now, it's not Danny. It is officials in there and that I'm never going to allow."
"I'm going to give SAFA that 21 days, but you must watch what happens after 21 days."
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