The controversial refereeing decision after Kaizer Chiefs were allegedly denied a clear penalty against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 has increased the volume of calls for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to be introduced in the PSL.
Chiefs supporters were enraged, some heartbroken, after referee Luxolo Badi ignored an incident in added time against the Brazilians in the MTN8 semi-final second leg over the weekend, where Sundowns attacker Thapelo Maseko kicked down Mduduzi Mdantsane in the box.
Read: Chiefs Deserved Late Penalty? Ntseki Responds!
The consequences of not awarding Amakhosi the penalty denied them potentially their first MTN8 final since 2015, as, if they had scored a stoppage time penalty, they would have advanced to the final on away goals.
The controversial incident painted South African football in a bad light and calls for the introduction of VAR grew louder, to protect the integrity of the game.
SAFA previously came out to say the VAR usage in the PSL has been approved by FIFA but they did not specify why there is a delay to the referees getting helped by technology.
Former referee Victor Hlungwane has since revealed why there is a delay in the rollout of VAR in the PSL.
"VAR discussions are underway, it's with SAFA. So SAFA needs to make pronouncements after they conclude all the engagements," Hlungwane said on Metro FM Sports.
"It needs money, SAFA needs to get money somewhere to fund or buy the equipment," he revealed.
Given the large noise made by Chiefs fans and how the incident damages the reputation of the PSL, with the trend of a younger generation preferring more organised leagues in Europe (where VAR usage has become the norm), the League can help speed up the process by investing financially, so to speak, on VAR equipment to enhance and protect their own product.
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