Join the debate as it's revealed that three-quarters of fans of Premier League clubs are against the use of the video assistant referee (VAR)
It's according to a survey by the Football Supporters Federation, with just under 8,000 fans taking part in the survey
Key results: 90% disagreed that technology has improved the matchday experience | 91% believe it's harmed goal celebrations | 94% disagree it makes watching it on TV more enjoyable | 72% disagree it makes referee decisions more accurate
Refereeing mistakes on the field and through the video assistant referee have risen across most categories in this season's Premier League, writes Dale Johnson
What do you think? Get in touch and join the debate
Thanks for joining us today.
If you missed the debate, check out the links in our summary for the results of the FSA's fans' survey and reaction to it.
We are certain to revisit this VAR debate again soon, so goodbye for now, until the next time...
Dave and Andrew there with just two of more than 1,300 messages we have received from our readers today on this subject, triggered by the Football Supporters Association (FSA) survey on VAR.
Three in four of almost 8,000 fans who responded said they opposed the use of VAR in the Premier League.
The FSA is adamant that those supporters should be listened to and acted upon to at least improve the current system of VAR for fans.
"Supporters naturally raise their concerns and they fall on deaf ears far too much", says Thomas Concannon, the FSA's Premier League network manager.
"That's really disappointing, especially when all we hear is that the fans are the lifeblood of the game.
"Don't just ignore what supporters are telling you in great numbers - that the enjoyment of football isn't there anymore in comparison to what it used to be."
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As a man in my 60s, the game has changed beyond belief. VAR has spoiled the game I knew and loved. You can't tackle anymore for fear of getting a card. And offside, the benefit of doubt used to be with the striker, now you can be ruled offside by a finger nail.
Dave
VAR has forgotten why it was adopted, it was only supposed to correct real and obvious errors. Instead it is often used to go back before the incident to look at minute detail in early parts of the passage of play.
Andrew
Image source, Getty ImagesRemember this one?
In October 2023, the PGMOL admitted that match officials incorrectly ruled out Luis Diaz's goal for Liverpool in their 2-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.
With the game goalless, Diaz thought he had broken the deadlock in the 34th minute, only for his strike to be ruled out for offside.
Still images of the incident showed Tottenham defender Cristian Romero playing Diaz onside.
The disallowed goal came when the match was level but with the Reds down to 10 men after Curtis Jones had also been controversially sent off following VAR official Darren England's intervention.
The lines were drawn in accordance with normal procedure and every other aspect was checked.
However, sources suggested that it was a lapse of concentration that led to a loss of focus around the initial on-field decision and then a 'check complete' being confirmed rather than an intervention that would have resulted in the goal being awarded.
In a statement the PGMOL said: "The goal by Luis Diaz was disallowed for offside by the on-field team of match officials. This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention. However, the VAR failed to intervene."
A Liverpool statement in the aftermath said "sporting integrity has been undermined".
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Scrap it. At the end of the day, it still makes errors. With a refereeing decision, you would moan, but it's easier to accept. Also, it happens in real time, not with a 5-minute delay. I'll accept a referee's decision any day over some screenshot of a computer image.
Joffrey
I said at the time be careful what you wish for, when all the big hitters and commentators were screaming for it to be introduced. Now it's the same voices that want it gone. Football is now dreadful.
Tariq
Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live
It is the worst thing that has been introduced to the game.
I think it has ruined it. It's ruined the enjoyment in stadiums. I think it's ruined it for referees to officiate. I think that it's a little bit of a safety blanket every time they referee.
VAR isn't perfect, it isn't great, it makes mistakes and it's still subjective, which is a huge problem, and I just think it's a poor addition to the game.
While Micah Richards argues that former footballers could help smooth out VAR to make it more palatable, some ex-pros have already nailed their colours to the mast in that regard...
Image source, Getty ImagesIn October 2024, a decision in the game between West Ham United and Manchester United led to the ultimate consequence - a managerial sacking.
With the game level at 1-1, West Ham striker Danny Ings went down inside the penalty area while challenging for the ball with Man Utd defender Mathijs de Ligt.
Referee David Coote waved play on but was advised by VAR Michael Oliver to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Following a VAR review, a penalty was awarded and Jarrod Bowen duly converted from the spot and gave the home side a 2-1 win.
It proved to be the final time that Erik ten Hag would take charge of Manchester United, with the Dutch manager sacked the following day - a full six months after VAR arguably saved his job in that FA Cup semi-final against Coventry.
Referees' chief Howard Webb later admitted the Hammers should not have been awarded a penalty.
One solution to improving the implementation of VAR that is often touted is to get ex-pros involved in the decision making.
Former footballers Chris Sutton and Micah Richards discussed that very topic on the Monday Night Club back in 2023...
Micah Richards: 'Ex-pros in VAR would definitely help'
Daniel Austin
BBC Sport reporter
The thing is, there is little prospect of the video assistant referee (VAR) being removed from the Premier League, or having its remit reduced.
In 2024, 19 out of 20 top-flight clubs voted to keep VAR, with only Wolves voting against, having proposed the poll themselves.
In order for VAR to be scrapped, 14 out of the 20 Premier League clubs would have to vote against it following a new proposal for its abolition from a club.
It's sucked the life and enjoyment out of football, has ruined fan interaction and made refereeing even harder than before. Goal-line technology has worked. Keep that. Bin off VAR, improve & simplify the offside rule, bin off the rest. Football is a fluid game, not a computer game.
Pete in Buckinghamshire
I have never met a match-going fan who likes VAR. Referees will always make mistakes - they are human after all - but they cancel out over time. VAR slows the game down for all, takes the fun out of celebrating and will always be a bone of contention.
Nathaniel in Putney
VAR should be scrapped. Return to ref’s decision is final, right or wrong. But the pundits on TV and press need to stop making an issue of mistakes made.
Richard in Warrington
Image source, Getty ImagesWe brought you one error that led to Arsenal dropping two points, well this time they got them back - albeit three years later.
Everton should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 defeat by the Gunners on 20 December, according to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel.
Mikel Arteta's side were leading 1-0 in the 57th minute at the Hill Dickinson Stadium when William Saliba and Everton striker Thierno Barry clashed inside the area.
Barry got to the ball first, but his boot was kicked by Arsenal's French defender.
The panel voted 3-2 that the on-field decision by referee Sam Barrott to not award a penalty was incorrect.
It also voted 3-2 that video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Salisbury should have sent the match official to the monitor to change his decision.
Three panel members noted "Saliba carelessly kicks Barry with no contact on the ball" and they felt it was a clear and obvious error.
Everton manager David Moyes said: "It feels as though certain clubs get those decisions and other clubs don't."
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I've always thought VAR is necessary in this day and age, but can appreciate for match-going spectators that it's not great - perhaps make that central to improvements. Rugby has managed it well, with big screens and audio explaining it. Can also add to the tension if done right?
Jon in Notts
VAR is in theory a good idea; it is the execution that is flawed. VAR should only be used to check obvious factual errors so as to be objective not subjective; offside, corners/goal kicks, violent conduct; trust should be with the ref unless clear & obvious mistake.
Christopher
Not the game we all watched years ago, if football was just invented today with these rules would it catch on?
Clive in Liverpool
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he would only be satisfied if his side were given two points back for the VAR error that allowed Brentford's equaliser to stand in February 2023.
During the 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium, Ivan Toney's 74th-minute goal was the subject of a VAR check by Lee Mason following Ethan Pinnock's challenge on Gabriel.
That incident was cleared but there was a suggestion that then Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard was offside in the goal's build-up.
However, Mason did not use the system's lines that would have shown whether the Dane was offside or not, something that was later called "human error" in a statement by the PGMOL.
"It wasn't human error, it was not understanding your job," said Arteta.
"That's not acceptable, I'm sorry.
"It cost Arsenal two points that are not going to be restored so we are going to have to find those two points somewhere else in the league."
Mason was not selected for any Premier League matches the following weekend, and subsequently left the PGMOL by mutual consent, while PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb contacted Arsenal to "acknowledge and explain the significant error" that occurred.
The key issue for VAR is that those correct decisions do not stick in the memory, or stir up the same level of emotion, as the contentious moments...
Premier League
Whether or not the joy of watching football has been affected, the Premier League argues that statistics show VAR has enhanced match officials' decision making in the top flight:
"VAR delivers more correct decisions. In recent seasons, there have been around 100 correct VAR overturns per season - instances where goals would otherwise have been incorrectly awarded or disallowed, or red cards or penalties missed or wrongly given.
"The league applies a high threshold for VAR intervention, with the referee's call taking precedence. As a result, VAR is less intrusive in the Premier League than in other European leagues, including the Champions League, where VAR intervenes almost twice as often."
Image source, Getty ImagesWhile there are a number of examples of VAR having made mistakes, there are far more examples of it being used correctly.
Technically, every incident that isn't highlighted as a mistake is VAR doing its job correctly.
But there are also instances where it's used correctly and yet still feels so very wrong...
In 2024, Championship side Coventry City were on the brink of completing the most historic of comebacks against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final of all occasions.
They fought back from 3-0 down to take the game to extra-time before a goal in the 121st minute from Victor Torp looked to have completed one of the most incredible comebacks in football history.
VAR intervened and an offside was called on Haji Wright in the build-up, halting Coventry celebrations.
The Sky Blues ultimately fell to defeat in the penalty shoot-out.
While the decision to adjudge Wright offside was factually correct, the incident brought up a debate in itself about the joy being sapped out of the beautiful game.
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Football is supposed to be fun, to watch and to play. VAR makes football less fun. It has killed my love of football so completely that instead of watching lower-league teams, I'm more inclined to watch other sports.
John
Officials get criticised but VAR has its own faults. Delaying an offside decision and the delay in awarding a goal are purely down to having VAR. Going back to something that happened a few minutes previously is also frustrating for the viewers.
Stephen
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
As mentioned, corners and second yellow cards will be added to the scope of the video assistant referee (VAR) for this summer's World Cup.
Measures to address loss of tempo in matches and cut down on time-wasting will also be introduced, including new countdowns on goal-kicks, throw-ins and substitutions.
The International Football Association Board (Ifab) approved the proposals at its annual general meeting at Hensol Castle in Wales in February.
The changes will come into force from 1 June and apply for the 2026-27 season.
The fans surveyed by the FSA span all 20 Premier League clubs and the majority are regular matchgoers, with more than half saying they attend at least 15 games a season.
Other key data from the survey includes:
NB: VAR will be used to check corners and second yellow cards at this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico
