Football championships have always been riddled with critical decisions that can make or break

a team’s destiny. However, the advent of technology, especially Video Assistant Referee
(VAR), has revolutionized the way football is officiated. VAR was introduced to reduce human
errors and ensure fair play, but it has also sparked intense debates and controversies. Using this
inquiry question, to what extent the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in Football
championships has impacted the overall experience for players and fans. we will explore how
technology, particularly VAR, has shaped football championships, examining its impact on the
game and its role in the overall experience for players and fans.

The introduction of VAR in football championships marked a significant milestone in the

sport’s history. VAR uses video footage to review critical decisions made by the on-field
referees, such as goals, penalties, red card incidents, and mistaken identity situations. The
primary aim of VAR is to minimize errors and provide more accurate and fair outcomes.
Since its implementation, VAR has become an essential part of major football tournaments,
including domestic leagues and international competitions.

VAR is an imperfect Second Opinion.

One major perspective is that players have all railed against the inconsistent decision
making, delays and disruptions caused by reviews on the VAR while fans being loudly
dismissive about its usage. Often, VAR comes into play in reviewing potential contentious
incidents such as fouls that interrupt the game in search of an accurate decision, causing
unintended delay that sours the whole football experience for both fans and players.

VAR was to enhance accuracy in decision making by offering technological support to

officials, an obvious and intuitive justification of the countless delays in football matches.
The delays due to video replays are essential underpinnings for fairness and integrity in the
game and thus enhancing more accurate and unbiased football decisions .However its degree
of accuracy is overrated because the delays are inscrutable and lengthy , making the whole
football experience to be irritating . This is further heightened by the thought that fans and
players do not get to know how the VAR decisions are reached at, significantly guaranteeing
that the decisions are not always correct because they are threatened by subjectivity and the
inability for fans to access the reasoning behind the VAR decisions. The source offers
additional proof for the assertion that football is a series of challenging decisions made in
real time under immense pressure, however, VAR tries to hide this pivotal element from its
audience, suggesting a notable change in the usual flow, spontaneity and emotional
components of the game. This is so true because it is reflected in Global matter’s article that
provides instances of comparison between the presence and the absence VAR reviews in
iconic football matches such as the Maradona’s goal in 1987

Generally ,In aspiring toward a more perfect version of the truth, soccer's leaders have
forgotten that VAR in soccer is still human and still flawed. Worse yet, it presses pause on
the beautiful game, damaging the fan experience in the process.
Reducing Human Errors and cultivating
anticipation.

An interesting perspective is on the VAR’s ability to reduce human errors and drastically
change the officiating approaches for many coaches and their assistants. The technology’s
integration into the football championships has reduces the glaring human errors that often
change the course and the outcome of the game. With the help of video replays , both the
coaches and VAR officials can identity unspotted high-stakes incidences in Realtime, consult
each other in order to correct mistakes on field and overall improving the quality of accuracy
which ultimately enhances the football experience especially for players and fans.
Interestingly, due to VAR’s transparency and clarity in crucial moments, many fans
appreciates this integral part of the football experience, adding an extra layer of excitement
and engagement.
While its obvious that the delays in football championships tend to dampen the whole
excitement, Tech trend Kenya , a reputable news channel in Kenya demystifies this by
emphasising on VAR’s ability to reverse decision and change outcomes even after the
matches have ended is a an underrated and vital thread of sporting as it enhances the
football experience. The massive unpredictability that comes with these delays can add
excitement to fans by cultivating deep running bitterness that simmers there emotions and
anticipation from the VAR intervention . This is very momentous because just like salt, the
unpredictability element of VAR improves the flavour of the football matches, effectively
amplifying the sweetness profile of these championships. Notably, that VAR has undeniably
reshaped the championships’ landscape and will undoubtedly evolve and improve further,
striking a balance between preserving the spirit of the game and ensuring the game is more
exciting.

3 VAR has robbed football its joy.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for refereeing
games in English professional assert that their is failure of VAR’s experimental check in
football championships. claiming that “the technology’s use has only added another layer of
human error” in the name of enhancing integrity, which has drastically exacerbated the
football experience for fans and even reduced the morale for players to participate in football
championships with loads of doubts about the outcome after the game.
The never-ending discourse between the referee and the VAR official is the main cause for the
increased human errors and biases experienced in football matches such as the recent
controversies that stem from the “ vague” outcomes due to its usages in the English premier
League. In fact the “intentional” additional layer of human error is further evidenced by
incidences such as Liverpool’s demand for Premier League referees to “release the tapes” that
pictures their loss. The addition of human errors and biases by VAR technology is very
evident because fans and players claim that “No goal is definite anymore, no scoreline is
certain” and there is no guarantee the officials will make the right decision anyway because
they undermine their referring power. This connotes that if coaches, fans and players can no
longer trust the referees and the credility of their referring then it is very obvious that VAR is
slowly killing many football championships. This is significantly due to t he overreliance of
technology in football matches adds biases and errors in referring because the referees are
not ceratin of the decisions of “God’s moments” in football

Conclusion

The integration of technology, particularly VAR, in football championships has

undeniably reshaped the sport’s landscape. While controversies surrounding VAR
decisions persist, there is no denying its positive impact on reducing human errors,
enhancing fair play, and improving the overall quality of officiating. As football
continues to embrace technological advancements, VAR will undoubtedly evolve and
improve further, striking a balance between preserving the spirit of the game and
ensuring just and accurate outcomes.

1. Enhancing Training for VAR Officials

One of the primary ways to improve VAR’s accuracy and its impact on the football
experience is through enhanced training for VAR officials. This includes not only initial
training but also ongoing education to keep officials up-to-date with the latest technology
and interpretation of rules. By ensuring that VAR officials are highly skilled and
knowledgeable, decisions made using VAR are more likely to be accurate and consistent.
Continuous Professional Development and simulation training can help VAR
officials stay informed about changes in technology and interpretation of the game’s
rules. Providing VAR officials with more hands-on experience in a variety of game
situations.

2. Improving Technology
The effectiveness of VAR is heavily dependent on the quality of the technology used.
Improvements in camera technology, replay systems, and communication devices can
significantly enhance the accuracy of decisions made using VAR.
High-Definition Cameras, faster replay systems and better communication tools
improves communication between the on-field referee and VAR officials ensures that
information is conveyed clearly and quickly.
All the intervention strategies use innovative approaches to extend and transform the
current state of VAR technology in footbal championships. This
will ensure fair and equal address to the key concerns, nneds and requirements for fans
and players in order to improve the overall football experience