{
  "id": 3423969,
  "title": "TIMELINE | SAFA-VAR saga set straight, R20m untouched as McKenzie requires accountability",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/timeline-safa-var-saga-set-straight-r20m-untouched-as-mckenzie",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/bafana/2026-08-26-timeline--safa-var-saga-set-straight-r20m-untouched-as-mckenzie-requires-accountability/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The South African Football Association (SAFA) has until September 9 to explain the whereabouts of R20 million set aside for implementing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) confirmed that the funds remain untouched in a separate account, along with the interest earned. The only public expenditure on the VAR project to date is R765,257.03, which paid for a technical fact-finding mission to Spain in November 2025. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) confirmed that SAFA has been given 21 days to explain the situation.",
  "summary": "SAFA has until 9 September to explain the unutilised R20 million allocated for VAR, as the Sport Ministry demands accountability amid ongoing refereeing controversies.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}