VAR Controversy: Why Video Referee Decisions Stir Up Football
Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, was meant to make the game fairer, but it often ends up fueling arguments. Fans, players, and coaches love a clear call, yet the technology can feel like a drama that never ends. Let’s break down why VAR keeps the football world on edge and what you can expect when you watch a match.
What Triggers a VAR Call?
In most leagues, VAR only steps in for four types of incidents: goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. When the on‑field referee whistles, the VAR team reviews the footage on a monitor. If there’s a clear error, they send a signal and the referee checks the screen. The whole process can take a few seconds or stretch into a minute, and that’s when the tension spikes.
Real‑World Sparks: Recent Controversial Moments
One of the most talked‑about moments happened in the Serie A opener when Nico Paz helped Como beat Lazio 2‑0. The referee announced a VAR off‑side ruling live to the stadium, leaving fans confused and players protesting. The split‑second decision changed the flow of the game and sparked a flood of social‑media posts demanding more transparency.
In the Premier League, Emile Smith Rowe’s first‑touch equaliser against Manchester United was a textbook example of a goal that survived a VAR check. While United fans cheered the missed penalty, the replay showed a tiny handball that went unnoticed. Such near‑misses keep the controversy alive week after week.
Even outside of Europe, the VAR debate roars. Real Madrid’s 3‑0 win over Oviedo featured a late‑game review that confirmed a goal after a brief pause. Supporters argued the delay ruined the excitement, while critics said the review proved VAR’s importance. These real cases illustrate how a single decision can dominate headlines and fan discussions.
So, why does VAR feel controversial? First, the technology isn’t perfect—cameras can miss angles, and human interpretation still decides the outcome. Second, the time it takes to review can break a team’s momentum, especially when a goal is canceled. Finally, fans often don’t get a clear explanation, leaving them to guess why a decision was made.What can you do as a viewer? Keep an eye on the referee’s signal—usually a bright orange rectangle on their chest. That’s the cue that a review is happening. If the decision goes your way, celebrate. If not, remember the goal of VAR: to eliminate clear mistakes, even if the process isn’t always smooth.
In the end, VAR will stay part of football as long as leagues want to reduce blatant errors. The controversy will keep evolving, especially as new tech like AI-assisted reviews enters the mix. Until then, expect the occasional pause, a heated debate, and lots of replay clips on your feed.
Kieran Lockhart, Mar, 3 2025
Celtic's manager Brendan Rodgers has voiced strong disapproval of a VAR decision that revoked Daizen Maeda's potential equalizer in their loss to Hibernian. Rodgers criticized the insufficient evidence for overturning the on-field call, maintaining that the referee's original decision should have been upheld. This incident is under review by the Scottish FA's Key Match Incidents Panel.
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