Heading into the new season, the VAR remains a talking point as sections of fans and pundits are against the use of the technology in sports today, while some are for it.
VAR was introduced to help refs make game-changing decisions: red cards, penalties, offsides, mistaken identity, etc. But since its inception in 2019, the Video Assistant Referee has stirred up many controversial moments.
Initially hailed as a game-changer, VAR’s effectiveness has come under scrutiny. On several occasions, lengthy decision-making has disrupted the flow of matches, sapping players’ momentum and sharpness.
While some still view it as a vital tool for ensuring fairness, the questions remain: has VAR fulfilled its purpose?
In March 2019, the IFAB (International Football Association Board) formally wrote the VAR into the Laws of the Game, and within a short period, it was introduced into various competitions, both domestic, Champions League and international matches.
The VAR was first used in an FA Cup third-round tie between Crystal Palace and Brighton and was later used in the competition’s semi-final and final.
For years, referees have been criticised for wrong calls that have harmed the chances of teams either progressing to the next round or getting all three points.
The introduction of VAR initially eased concerns across the football world, offering hope for fairer outcomes. However, its inconsistencies have since sparked controversy, creating moments that have left a lasting mark on the game’s history.
Controversial Times in the Past VAR Would Have Been Useful
The game of football without VAR was a game filled with questionable moments.
The non-existence of the VAR saw the winners lose and the losers win, leaving everlasting scars on players, fans, and the game itself. Moments include
2010 World Cup – Round of 16
Frank Lampard’s Ghost Goal (England vs. Germany)
On June 27th at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, England trailed Germany 2–1 in the first half of their World Cup Round of 16 clash.
Following a fine build-up, Frank Lampard found himself in a yard of space and struck a powerful shot from 20 yards out that clearly crossed the goal line by nearly a meter.
However, with no goal-line technology in place at the time and referee Jorge Larrionda waving play on, the goal was not awarded. Germany seized the momentum from the controversial decision and went on to secure a 4-1 win.
Had the goal stood, it would have levelled the game to 2-2, psychologically boosting the team, shifting momentum, and might have changed the outcome of the match.
2014 FIFA World Cup – Quarterfinal: Brazil vs Colombia – Neymar’s Injury
Brazilian attacker Neymar suffered a competition-ending injury after a high-knee challenge from Colombia’s left back Camilo Zuniga left the player in severe pain.
In the 88th minute of the game, Zuniga jumped into Neymar from behind, with his knee to the lower back of the attacker, causing a fractured vertebra that saw him stretchered off the pitch, ruling him out for the remainder of the competition.
The shocking incident saw the defender escape punishment entirely, leaving fans stunned, as many considered the challenge reckless and dangerous.
Without Neymar, sidelined by the injury, Brazil went on to endure a historic 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals.
Had the VAR been in use at this period, the outcome might have been different, as it would have been checked for serious foul play potentially leading to a red card for the defender.
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UEFA Champions League – Semi-Finals: Chelsea vs Barcelona (2009)
This match was filled with clear cases of red cards not issued and penalties not awarded, a blatant display of poor officiating. It stands out as a potential landmark moment in the argument for the introduction of VAR in football.
16 years after this encounter, the game is still remembered as “The Greatest Robbery in Football History.” The Blues faced an in-form Barcelona team in a heated second-leg encounter of the UCL at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea needed a win to scale through to the next round of the competition after they had miraculously played out a goalless draw at the Nou Camp a week earlier. The Blues went ahead in the ninth minute, with Michael Essien putting them in front.
But after the goal, there was a series of questionable decisions. And in the last minute of the game, Andres Iniesta broke the hearts of millions of Chelsea fans around the world with a thunderous strike that beat Petr Cech at the near post.
Minutes later, Chelsea players erupted in protest after a shot appeared to strike the hand of a Barcelona defender in the box.
Referee Tom Henning Ovrebo waved away the appeals, sparking outrage on the pitch, most notably from Michael Ballack, who furiously chased the official in disbelief.
At full-time, an incensed Didier Drogba turned to the camera in rage and delivered his now-iconic outburst: “It’s a disgrace.”
UEFA Champions League – Quarter-final: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (2016)
In one of the most debated UEFA Champions League matches of the modern era, Bayern Munich lost 4–2 to Real Madrid after extra time in the second leg of the 2016/17 quarterfinal at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In the first leg of the encounter, Madrid had taken the advantage after a 2-1 win at the Allianz Arena. But in the second leg, the German club drew the game all square after edging Madrid 2-1 during normal time.
Controversy erupted in the additional 30 minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid back in front with a goal that replays clearly showed was scored from an offside position, a decision that would likely have been overturned had VAR been in use.
Just five minutes later, he completed his hat-trick with yet another goal that appeared to come from an offside position.
Adding to the drama, Bayern’s Arturo Vidal was controversially sent off in the 83rd minute for a challenge on Marco Asensio, further fueling outrage.
The combination of these decisions served as a flashpoint and significantly intensified calls for the introduction of VAR in European competitions.
The absence of VAR played a key role in this game. If the technology had been available during this period, both Ronaldo’s extra-time goals would have been ruled out, and Vidal’s red card might have been checked by the pitch-side monitor and overturned.
It would have also given Bayern some sort of lifeline. Instead, Real Madrid celebrated their victory in the semifinals, while Bayern players and fans across Europe were left devastated.
When Technology Gets It Right: VAR’s Positive Impact
Since VAR was officially introduced in major competitions, it hasn’t been entirely controversial. There have been clear positives.
The technology has helped ensure that correct decisions are made and has overturned several wrong calls, bringing a greater level of accuracy to the game.
VAR has undeniably helped uphold fairness in pivotal moments across domestic and international competitions.
2018 FIFA World Cup – France vs Australia
In the group stage, France striker Antoine Griezmann was brought down in the box, but referee Andres Cunha initially waved play on, as he was unconvinced that a foul had occurred.
After some minutes, the game was stopped for a VAR review, and after the check was completed, a penalty was awarded, which Griezmann dispatched with ease.
It was the first World Cup goal ever awarded through the Video Assistant Referee, and its use correctly established a precedent for its impact throughout the tournament.
2022 World Cup – Japan vs Spain
In one of the most shocking results of the 2022 World Cup, Japan’s comeback win over the 2010 champions, Spain, sent shockwaves around the football world, not just for the upset but for the controversy surrounding their winning goal.
A positive result for Japan that helped them top Group E and knock out one of the competition’s favourites, four-time winners Germany. But the win didn’t come without disagreements.
Former Real Madrid and Chelsea striker Álvaro Morata gave La Roja an early lead in the 11th minute, but what unfolded afterwards was completely unexpected.
Two quick-fire goals within three minutes turned the game on its head. Despite Spain dominating possession with 83% compared to Japan’s 17%, and completing 1,058 passes to their opponents’ 228, they couldn’t regain control of the match.
A resilient defence saw the Samurai Blue come out victorious.
The most talked-about moment of the game was Japan’s controversial winning goal. To the naked eye, it appeared the ball had gone out of play for a Spanish goal kick.
However, upon VAR review, it was revealed that the ball had not fully crossed the line before being cut back, making the goal valid.
2021 Euro Final – England vs Denmark
The Euro 2020 tournament, held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featured a tense semifinal clash between England and Denmark – a match that highlighted the impact of VAR in a decisive moment.
With the score level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, England were awarded a penalty in the 104th minute of extra time following a challenge on Raheem Sterling.
VAR stepped in to review the incident, assessing both the legitimacy of the contact and the build-up to the play.
After a brief check, the decision was upheld and the penalty stood – a moment that showcased VAR’s role in supporting crucial calls on the biggest stage.
When Technology Fails: VAR’s Inconsistencies and Controversial Calls
It is frustrating when referees are inconsistent with their decisions. Over the years, this has become too common in the game.
Despite the goal of VAR to limit errors and bring clarity to the game, it has so far brought conflicting issues that have made fans confused.
This week, a goal is disallowed due to a handball in the build-up, the next week, a similar incident occurs and the goal is given.
Fans, coaches, and players are left confused because they feel that the final verdict is based on interpretation rather than on clear rules.
This lack of correlation not only undermines the trust in officiating and VAR but also fuels controversy and debate after every major decision.
Marc Cucurella’s Hair Pull
In a fierce London clash between Chelsea and Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, the Blues had taken a goal advantage heading into the final minutes of the match, but in the 96th minute, just before a corner for Spurs (that led to the equalizing goal), defender Cristian Romero had pulled Marc Cucurella’s hair that saw the Spaniard fall to the ground.
Mike Dean, who was on VAR duty, did review the incident but chose not to advise the referee, Anthony Taylor, to consult the pitch-side monitor for a potential red card. From the resulting corner, Tottenham equalised.
Fast forward years later, and an almost identical incident occurred. In a Premier League match on December 4, 2024, at St.Mary’s stadium, Southampton’s captain Jack Stephens was shown a straight red card for pulling Cucurella’s hair during a corner kick in Chelsea’s 5-1 win.
Referee Tony Harrington, who initially missed the incident, was called back to review the pitch-side monitor and after rewatching, he issued the red card after confirming violent conduct.
Similar incidents yielding different outcomes have left fans frustrated and players feeling unfairly treated.
Chelsea’s Club World Cup Campaign
The Blues cruised to a 3-0 win over Tunisian side Esperance in their third group stage match of the competition.
They went ahead thanks to quick goals from Tosin Adarabioyo and new striker Liam Delap just before the half-time whistle.
The second half began much like the first, with the Blues firmly in control.
In the 74th minute, debutant Andrey Santos unleashed a shot that was on target but took a clear deflection off an Esperance player’s hand inside the box.
The referee initially awarded a penalty, and Christopher Nkunku stood ready to take it. However, after a brief pause and a review at the pitch-side monitor, the decision was surprisingly overturned, leaving the players visibly baffled.
Similar handball incidents in the box have routinely been deemed stonewall penalties. Yet, in this case, even with the aid of VAR, the correct decision was not made – highlighting once again the inconsistency that continues to frustrate players and fans alike.
Manchester United’s Post-Whistle VAR Drama
In a Premier League encounter between Manchester United and Brighton at the Amex Stadium, one of the most controversial VAR moments in recent memory unfolded.
The full-time whistle was blown, ending the match in a 2-2 draw, prompting players from both sides to begin leaving the pitch.
However, in a twist of things, the referee called the players back onto the pitch and reviewed the incident and awarded a penalty for Neal Maupay’s handball in the final corner of the game.
The decision sparked outrage among Brighton players and fans, with many questioning how a penalty could be awarded after the full-time whistle had already been blown.
Disruptive Delays and Game Flow
The use of the VAR to make decisions and ensure fairness is a good idea, but it would be even better if the amount of time spent checking these incidents were lessened. What should be a quick check turns into minutes of indecisiveness.
In an FA Cup match between Bournemouth and Wolves, play was stopped when Milo Kerkez’s goal was disallowed, and checks were conducted to ascertain if there was a handball and an offside in the build-up.
The entire process took a staggering eight minutes, the longest VAR decision on record.
A similar incident unfolded in the Premier League during a dramatic finish against Aston Villa.
In the closing moments, Tomas Soucek bundled in what appeared to be a winning goal.
However, a lengthy VAR check for a potential handball dragged on for five minutes and 37 seconds.
With no clear conclusion reached, the decision was referred to on-field referee Jarred Gillett, who, after reviewing the footage on the pitch-side monitor, ultimately disallowed the goal, leaving West Ham players and fans in disbelief.
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Manager’s View on VAR
After a controversial 2-1 win against Liverpool, a game that saw Liverpool’s Luiz Diaz’ goal incorrectly ruled out for offside in the 34th minute, former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said after the game when asked about the VAR.
“We’re analysing, in slow motion, yellow cards. We, as managers and players, are the worst for it because we talk about integrity but I bet if you watch a game tonight, the first throw-in, both teams will appeal for it. We’re trying to take advantage and there’s nothing wrong with that.
“With VAR, the more we use it the worse it’s going to get. Clear and obvious error? It seems like everything is getting scrutinised.”
Former Liverpool Boss Jurgen Klopp was also of the notion that var should be scrapped, he said;
“I do not think VAR is the problem, but the way we use it is the problem. So, you cannot change the people obviously, it’s clear. You need them.
“So yes, I would vote for scrapping VAR.”
Improving VAR: Making the System Work Better for Football
VAR has aimed to bring fairness and accuracy to football, and it has achieved that to an extent, but its inconsistent application and long delays have led to fans asking for it to be improved.
To restore confidence and improve the system, several changes are needed.
First, decision-making times must be reduced. Some reviews take several minutes, killing the flow of the game.
Better technology, better communication between the referee and VAR officials, would make decision-making faster.
Second, there needs to be greater consistency in decisions. Identical incidents in different games should lead to the same results.
Clearer guidelines and better training for VAR officials can help eliminate this problem.
Finally, more accountability is needed. When mistakes are made, the process should be reviewed publicly, and officials held to a standard that maintains the integrity of the game.
Technology improves every day, and the VAR also has the potential to be upgraded to enhance football. With the right enhancements, it can serve the game rather than disrupt it.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date: 18.05.2025