McKenzie revealed that he had formally written to SAFA demanding the VAR money back. He requested 21 days to respond to his demand.
The minister said that period has now passed without the funds being returned, leaving him frustrated over the stalled project.
GAYTON MCKENZIE DEMANDS STATE MONEY BACK
Speaking after the South African Sport Awards at Sun City on Sunday night, McKenzie made his frustration with SAFA clear.
“I wrote SAFA a letter where I said they should return my money, the money of the state, because I am responsible for it,” McKenzie said.
The minister said SAFA asked for 21 days to respond, but claimed that the deadline passed without the association returning the money.
“I am angry, because what more can I do? I asked them in a letter, bring back my money, the money of the state.”
The funding was intended to help introduce VAR in South African football, but the technology has yet to become a reality across the domestic game.
McKenzie insisted that he had done everything within his power to support the project and said football supporters should not blame him for the delays.
“We were supposed to have had the VAR. So people shouldn’t look at me. I’m the minister that put it on the table that the VAR should be there. I did everything humanly possible.”
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SAFA FACES PRESSURE OVER VAR
The minister has now indicated that he will escalate the matter to FIFA after failing to resolve the issue through his correspondence with SAFA.
“Now I’m writing to FIFA. I’ve already spoken to FIFA, but I’m writing to them,” he said.
McKenzie also accused SAFA of corruption, further intensifying the public dispute between the government and the country’s football governing body.
Those allegations remain claims made by McKenzie and have not been independently established. The latest development puts additional pressure on SAFA to account for the state funding and explain the status of the VAR project.
For McKenzie, however, the message is clear: the money must be accounted for. “Bring back my money.”
