# VAR in Football 2026: How the Technology Works, Why It's Controversial, and Whether It's Here to Stay > Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has transformed football since 2018, but it remains deeply controversial. Here's how VAR works, why fans and players hate it, and whether the system can be fixed. *Section: Sports — By Tom Bennett (Sports Writer) — Published July 8, 2026 — 10 min read* Canonical URL: https://dailyjunction.org/sports/var-technology-football-controversy-2026 Tags: VAR, football technology, Premier League, refereeing, sports technology, football rules ## Key takeaways - VAR was introduced to eliminate 'clear and obvious errors' in four situations: goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity, but has expanded to review subjective decisions like handball and offside - The Premier League's VAR system made 118 interventions in 2023-24, overturning 72 on-field decisions, but surveys show 67% of fans want major changes or abolition - Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) was introduced at the 2022 World Cup and adopted by the Premier League in 2024-25, reducing offside decision time from 70 seconds to 25 seconds - VAR's biggest controversies involve subjective calls (handball, fouls) where the 'clear and obvious' threshold is inconsistently applied, leading to accusations of bias - The system costs £10 million annually to operate in the Premier League, with each VAR hub employing 4 officials per match and requiring high-speed cameras and AI tracking **Video Assistant Referee (VAR)** technology was introduced to football in 2018 with a simple promise: eliminate **clear and obvious errors** that change the outcome of matches. But six years later, VAR remains one of the most **controversial** and **divisive** innovations in football history. Fans complain it kills spontaneous goal celebrations, players and managers argue it is inconsistently applied, and broadcasters struggle to explain decisions that take 60-90 seconds to review. Yet football authorities insist VAR is here to stay, citing improved decision accuracy and the need to prevent match-fixing scandals. Here is everything you need to know about VAR in 2026 — how the technology works, why it is so controversial, and whether the system can be fixed. ## What Is VAR? **VAR (Video Assistant Referee)** is a system where a team of **off-field officials** reviews key decisions made by the **on-field referee** using video footage. The VAR team can: 1. **Alert the referee to a clear and obvious error** (e.g., a penalty that should have been given) 2. **Recommend the referee review the decision** on a pitchside monitor (called an **On-Field Review** or OFR) 3. **Confirm the referee's decision** was correct (no intervention) VAR is used in **four situations** only: 1. **Goals** — checking for offside, fouls, or handball in the build-up 2. **Penalty decisions** — checking if a foul occurred inside the box 3. **Red card incidents** — checking if a player committed a red-card offence 4. **Mistaken identity** — ensuring the correct player is cautioned or sent off VAR **cannot** be used for: - **Yellow card decisions** (unless it should have been a red card) - **Fouls outside the penalty area** (unless they lead to a goal or red card) - **Throw-ins, corners, or goal kicks** (unless they directly lead to a goal) ## How VAR Works: The Technology ### 1. The VAR hub In the **Premier League**, VAR is operated from a central hub at **Stockley Park** in west London. Each match has a dedicated **VAR team** consisting of: - **1 Video Assistant Referee (VAR)** — the lead official who makes the final decision - **1 Assistant VAR (AVAR)** — supports the VAR by reviewing footage - **2 Replay Operators** — control the camera feeds and angles The VAR team watches the match on **multiple screens** showing different camera angles (typically 12-16 angles per match, including broadcast cameras and dedicated VAR cameras). ### 2. Communication with the on-field referee The VAR team is in **constant audio contact** with the on-field referee via headsets. When a potential error is spotted, the VAR says: - **"Checking [incident]"** — the VAR is reviewing the footage - **"Check complete"** — the VAR confirms the on-field decision was correct - **"Possible [offence]"** — the VAR recommends an On-Field Review (OFR) If the VAR recommends an OFR, the referee goes to a **pitchside monitor** to review the footage and make the final decision. The referee can: - **Overturn the original decision** (e.g., award a penalty) - **Confirm the original decision** (e.g., no penalty) ### 3. Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) In **2024-25**, the Premier League introduced **semi-automated offside technology (SAOT)**, which uses: - **12 tracking cameras** installed under the stadium roof - **AI-powered limb tracking** that detects 29 data points on each player's body (head, shoulders, arms, legs) - **A sensor in the ball** that detects the exact moment the ball is kicked When a player is in an offside position, the system generates a **3D animation** showing the player's position relative to the last defender. This is sent to the VAR team within **25 seconds** (compared to 70 seconds for manual offside checks). SAOT was first used at the **2022 World Cup** and has been adopted by **Serie A**, **La Liga**, and the **Champions League**. It is considered the most successful VAR innovation, as it removes human error from offside decisions. ### 4. Hawk-Eye goal-line technology VAR works alongside **Hawk-Eye goal-line technology**, which uses **7 cameras per goal** to detect if the ball has crossed the goal line. If the ball crosses the line, the referee's watch vibrates within **1 second**. Goal-line technology is **not part of VAR** — it is a separate system that has been in use since 2013 and is universally accepted by fans and players. ## VAR in the Premier League: The Numbers The Premier League has published detailed statistics on VAR usage since its introduction in **2019-20**. Here are the key numbers for **2023-24**: ### Interventions - **118 VAR interventions** (overturning on-field decisions) - **72 decisions overturned** after On-Field Review (OFR) - **46 decisions overturned without OFR** (e.g., offside goals disallowed) ### Breakdown by incident type - **Goals disallowed** — 42 (mostly for offside) - **Penalties awarded** — 28 - **Penalties overturned** — 12 - **Red cards awarded** — 18 - **Red cards overturned** — 6 - **Mistaken identity** — 12 ### Average review time - **Offside decisions** — 70 seconds (before SAOT), 25 seconds (after SAOT in 2024-25) - **Penalty decisions** — 90 seconds - **Red card decisions** — 60 seconds ### Accuracy The Premier League claims VAR increased **decision accuracy** from **82%** (pre-VAR) to **96%** in 2023-24. However, this includes many **trivial corrections** (e.g., offside by 2cm) that fans consider irrelevant. ## The Controversies VAR has been controversial since its introduction. The main criticisms are: ### 1. Inconsistent application of the 'clear and obvious' threshold VAR is supposed to intervene only for **clear and obvious errors**, but this threshold is **subjective** and **inconsistently applied**. For example: - In **September 2023**, **Liverpool vs Tottenham**, VAR failed to overturn an incorrect offside decision against Luis Díaz, costing Liverpool a goal. The VAR official later admitted it was a "significant human error." - In **November 2023**, **Newcastle vs Arsenal**, VAR awarded Newcastle a goal despite the ball appearing to go out of play in the build-up. The decision was not reviewed because the VAR deemed it "not clear and obvious." These inconsistencies have led to accusations of **bias** and **incompetence**. ### 2. Subjective handball and foul decisions VAR is most controversial for **handball** and **foul** decisions, which are inherently subjective. The handball rule has changed multiple times since VAR was introduced: - **2019-20**: Any handball in the build-up to a goal is an offence (even accidental) - **2020-21**: Handball is an offence only if the arm is in an "unnatural position" - **2021-22**: Handball is an offence only if it "directly" leads to a goal - **2023-24**: Handball is an offence if the arm is "above shoulder height" or "making the body bigger" These constant rule changes have confused fans, players, and referees, and VAR decisions are often inconsistent. ### 3. Killing spontaneous goal celebrations One of the most common fan complaints is that VAR **kills spontaneous goal celebrations**. When a goal is scored, fans must wait **30-90 seconds** to confirm it stands, ruining the emotional release of celebrating a goal. A survey by the **Premier League** in August 2024 found that **67% of fans** want major changes to VAR or its abolition, with **spontaneous celebrations** cited as the top concern. ### 4. Offside by millimetres VAR has disallowed goals for offside by **2-5 centimetres**, which many fans consider absurd. Critics argue that offside was never intended to penalise players for being marginally ahead of the last defender. The introduction of **semi-automated offside technology (SAOT)** in 2024-25 has reduced the time taken to make offside decisions, but it has not addressed the underlying issue of **marginal offsides**. Some leagues (e.g., **Eredivisie** in the Netherlands) have experimented with **thicker offside lines** (10cm instead of 5cm) to give attackers the benefit of the doubt, but this has not been adopted by the Premier League. ### 5. Lack of transparency Until **2023**, VAR audio was not made public, leading to conspiracy theories about bias and corruption. In **2024**, the Premier League began releasing **VAR audio recordings** for controversial decisions, but only **after the match**, which does not help fans in the stadium understand what is happening. The Premier League is testing **in-stadium announcements** (similar to the NFL) where the referee explains VAR decisions over the PA system, but this has not yet been rolled out league-wide. ## The Cost of VAR VAR is expensive to operate. The **Premier League** spends approximately **£10 million per year** on VAR, including: - **Stockley Park hub** — £3 million per year (rent, equipment, staff) - **VAR officials** — £4 million per year (4 officials per match × 380 matches × £2,500 per match) - **Technology** — £3 million per year (cameras, AI tracking, software) Lower leagues (e.g., **Championship**, **League One**) cannot afford VAR, creating a **two-tier system** where top-flight matches have VAR but lower-league matches do not. ## The Wolverhampton Vote: Should VAR Be Abolished? In **June 2024**, **Wolverhampton Wanderers** proposed a motion to **abolish VAR** at the Premier League's Annual General Meeting (AGM). The motion argued that VAR: - **Undermines the role of the referee** by second-guessing on-field decisions - **Damages the fan experience** by killing spontaneous celebrations - **Creates more controversy** than it solves The motion required **14 of 20 clubs** to vote in favour to pass. It was **defeated 19-1**, with only Wolves voting in favour. However, the vote highlighted the **depth of opposition** to VAR among fans and some clubs. Wolves' chairman Jeff Shi said: "VAR was supposed to make football fairer, but it has made it more frustrating and less enjoyable." ## Reforms and Improvements Despite the vote to keep VAR, the Premier League has committed to **reforms** to address fan concerns: ### 1. Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) Introduced in **2024-25**, SAOT reduces offside decision time from **70 seconds to 25 seconds** and removes human error from offside calls. Early feedback has been positive, with fans appreciating the faster decisions. ### 2. In-stadium announcements The Premier League is testing a system where the **referee explains VAR decisions** over the PA system (similar to the NFL). This would help fans in the stadium understand what is happening, rather than relying on TV broadcasts. ### 3. Stricter 'clear and obvious' threshold The Premier League has instructed VAR officials to intervene **only for clear and obvious errors**, not for **subjective 50-50 decisions**. This is intended to reduce the number of interventions and speed up the game. ### 4. Public release of VAR audio Since **2024**, the Premier League has released **VAR audio recordings** for controversial decisions, allowing fans to hear the conversation between the VAR team and the on-field referee. This has improved transparency but has also revealed mistakes and inconsistencies. ### 5. Independent VAR panel The Premier League has established an **independent VAR panel** (including former players, managers, and referees) to review controversial decisions and provide feedback to officials. The panel's findings are published weekly. ## VAR in Other Leagues and Competitions VAR is used in most top-level competitions worldwide, but implementation varies: ### La Liga (Spain) - **Most interventions** — La Liga has the highest number of VAR interventions per match (0.6 per match vs 0.3 in the Premier League) - **Longest reviews** — average review time is 90 seconds (vs 60 seconds in the Premier League) - **Controversial decisions** — La Liga VAR has been criticised for favouring Real Madrid and Barcelona ### Serie A (Italy) - **Semi-automated offside** — introduced in 2023-24, reducing offside decision time to 25 seconds - **Fewer interventions** — Serie A has fewer VAR interventions than other leagues (0.25 per match) - **Transparent audio** — Serie A broadcasts VAR audio live during matches (unique among major leagues) ### Bundesliga (Germany) - **Fastest reviews** — average review time is 45 seconds (vs 60 seconds in the Premier League) - **Fewer controversies** — Bundesliga VAR is generally well-received by fans, with 55% approval (vs 33% in the Premier League) ### Champions League (UEFA) - **Semi-automated offside** — introduced in 2023-24 - **Stricter 'clear and obvious' threshold** — UEFA instructs VAR to intervene less frequently than domestic leagues - **In-stadium announcements** — UEFA tests referee announcements in some matches ## The Bottom Line Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology was introduced to eliminate 'clear and obvious errors' in four situations: goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity, but has expanded to review subjective decisions like handball and offside. The Premier League's VAR system made 118 interventions in 2023-24, overturning 72 on-field decisions, but surveys show 67% of fans want major changes or abolition. Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) was introduced at the 2022 World Cup and adopted by the Premier League in 2024-25, reducing offside decision time from 70 seconds to 25 seconds. VAR's biggest controversies involve subjective calls (handball, fouls) where the 'clear and obvious' threshold is inconsistently applied, leading to accusations of bias. The system costs £10 million annually to operate in the Premier League, with each VAR hub employing 4 officials per match and requiring high-speed cameras and AI tracking. Despite a motion by Wolverhampton Wanderers to abolish VAR in 2024, the system was retained by a 19-1 vote, but the Premier League has committed to reforms including in-stadium announcements, stricter intervention thresholds, and public release of VAR audio. VAR has improved decision accuracy from 82% to 96%, but many fans argue the cost to spontaneity and flow of the game is too high. ## Frequently asked questions ### Why do fans hate VAR? Fans dislike VAR for three main reasons: it kills spontaneous goal celebrations (fans must wait 30-90 seconds to confirm a goal stands), it is inconsistently applied (similar incidents are judged differently), and it slows the game down (the average VAR review takes 60 seconds, disrupting the flow). Surveys by the Premier League in 2024 found 67% of fans want major changes or abolition, with only 22% satisfied with the current system. ### Has VAR improved decision-making accuracy? Yes, but not as much as expected. The Premier League reports that VAR increased correct decision accuracy from 82% (pre-VAR) to 96% in 2023-24. However, this includes many trivial corrections (e.g., offside by 2cm) that fans consider irrelevant. For subjective decisions like handball and fouls, accuracy has barely improved because the 'clear and obvious error' threshold is vague and inconsistently applied. ### Will VAR be abolished? Unlikely. Despite fan opposition, football authorities argue VAR is necessary to prevent match-fixing scandals and ensure fairness. Wolverhampton Wanderers proposed abolishing VAR at the Premier League's 2024 AGM, but the motion was defeated 19-1. However, the system is likely to be reformed: the Premier League is testing in-stadium announcements (explaining VAR decisions to fans), semi-automated offside (reducing delays), and stricter 'clear and obvious' thresholds to reduce interventions. ## Sources - [Premier League VAR Review 2023-24](https://www.premierleague.com) - [IFAB - Laws of the Game VAR Protocol](https://www.theifab.com) - [The Athletic - VAR Controversy Analysis](https://theathletic.com) - [BBC Sport - Fan Survey on VAR](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport) --- Daily Junction — https://dailyjunction.org/sports/var-technology-football-controversy-2026