“10 years of VAR: The controversial tool that transformed football forever.”

On March 5, 2016, world football experienced an unprecedented revolution. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) decided to approve the use of the Video Assistant Referee, commonly known as VAR, a video officiating system that promised to transform the sport forever. A decade later, VAR has become an integral part of the conversation among players, coaches, and fans, even though many semi-professional and amateur competitions have yet to adopt it due to technical limitations.

The changes that VAR has brought are undeniable. Goals scored from offside positions are no longer validated, simulations rarely result in penalties, and red cards for unintentional fouls are increasingly corrected. However, the expectation that VAR would eliminate all officiating errors has never materialized. The truth is that subjectivity permeates many decisions, and the nature of the game is such that not all situations can be clarified by a monitor.

To complicate matters further, the scope of VAR has remained unchanged over the decade, focusing solely on goals, penalties, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. But a new era is about to begin. Following the 2026 World Cup, FIFA, following a proposal from IFAB, will expand the use of VAR to include second yellow cards and corrections of clear errors in awarding corners. However, this expansion will not be mandatory, leaving the decision in the hands of leagues and competitions.

As VAR becomes increasingly common, discussions arise about the need to limit reviews on subjective calls, especially in the Premier League, where the idea of reducing game interruptions to avoid delays is on the table. The debate remains heated, and the question everyone is asking is: has VAR truly improved football, or has it brought more controversy and frustration to a game that is inherently unpredictable?

Football’s key figures, from players to coaches, have expressed their views on the impact of VAR, but the reality is that the tool still requires significant adjustments to fulfill its promises. Thus, VAR, which began as a hope for a fairer game, remains a hot topic of debate among all football enthusiasts.