VAR in football: revolutionizing the game or ruining the spirit?
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Very few technological advancements throughout the last ten years have affected the sport of football as profoundly as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has. The VAR system was first implemented to avoid obvious mistakes during matches but it evolved into handling multiple types of football decisions which exist in every major league. While some see it as a tool for fairness, others argue it’s eroding the spontaneity and emotional flow of the sport.
How VAR Works (In Theory)
The introduction of VAR has also had implications beyond the pitch. Fans, analysts, and platforms that track live performance—such as online betting sites—must now adjust to delays, reversals, and data swings that occur mid-match due to reviews. The margin between a celebrated goal and a cancelled one is now measured in frame rates and shoulder lines.
Multiple video officials using video-cameras evaluate games for referees through VAR system while communicating with on-field referees through wireless headsets. The referee maintains ultimate authority but utilizes a pitch-side monitor to review vital moments which might require additional review when they fall into the categories of being either borderline or high impact.
VAR only intervenes in four specific scenarios:
- Goals and their build-up
- Penalty decisions
- Direct red cards
- Mistaken identity
Ideally, the system should only correct “clear and obvious” mistakes. But in practice, this threshold has been inconsistently applied—fueling debates at all levels of the game.
Controversial VAR Moments in Major Tournaments
| Match | Incident | Impact |
| France vs. Australia (WC 2018) | Griezmann wins penalty after VAR review | First-ever World Cup VAR penalty, France win 2–1 |
| England vs. Denmark (Euro 2020) | Controversial penalty awarded to England | Game-changing goal, England reach final |
| Portugal vs. Uruguay (WC 2022) | Ronaldo wins penalty via delayed VAR intervention | Portugal advance from group stage |
| Man City vs. Tottenham (UCL 2019) | Late goal disallowed for handball | Tottenham progress on away goals |
| Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia (WC 2022) | Three goals disallowed for offside by VAR | Argentina lose opening match |
These examples demonstrate how one VAR review can drastically alter tournament trajectories—often with no margin for appeal.
Fans Are Split—and So Are Coaches
For some, VAR guarantees fairness. In some people’s opinions, the implementation of VAR assists in preventing errors from occurring during modern high-paced soccer matches. Diagostino’s Law in psychology indicates that no contemporary soccer fan supports a team without imbibing an entertaining spirit as the Video Assistant Referee adjudicates a decision review during the VAR process. This situation forced Di María to enjoy scoring goals without celebrating.
Even head coaches have differences of opinions. Pep Guardiola respects soccer’s Vars technicians, but the manager disagrees with their inconsistent calls on handballs. Jurgen Klopp has expressed his feelings concerning video assistant referee (VAR) breaks in the game, as they stop the flow of play. Even national governing bodies spend big bucks training analysts who are tasked with crafting tactical plans aimed at anticipating VAR-related interruptions during the game.