The video assistant referee in football
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11510%2F24%3A10479574" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11510/24:10479574 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=2XcJ9iQhMc" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=2XcJ9iQhMc</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12283-024-00459-3" target="_blank" >10.1007/s12283-024-00459-3</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
The video assistant referee in football
Original language description
The video assistant referee (VAR), popularized in football (soccer), has been decisive in many games played in several international and domestic competitions ever since the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) formalized its use for the first time in the 2018 Men's Football World Cup. Serving as a support tool for on-field referees, it is not only a game unifier but also a conflict pacifier by using a technology-based method to objectively appreciate whether human decisions were accurate and fair or erroneous and thus in need of correction. Given the overwhelming support evidenced by its broad adoption, but also some criticisms and concerns about this technology, an objective assessment of the growing literature on VAR is timely to take stock of what is known and what is still unknown about its use and perception. Using primarily indexed English literature from 2018 to 2024, this narrative review aims to gauge four main talking points related to VAR, including, but not limited to, the technology used, why VAR is perceived as controversial, and its perception in a socio-cultural context. This review underscores the positive perception of referees towards VAR, highlighting improved decision accuracy and minimal match disruption. Fans and media express trust in VAR, but call for refinements. Concerns about in-stadium communication with spectators suggest a need for enhanced decision transparency. We also acknowledge limitations, including language bias, literature (un)availability and sex-based disparities, while proposing future research avenues. Overall, VAR has become integral to football, shaping its officiating landscape, and inviting continuous improvement.
Czech name
—
Czech description
—
Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
30306 - Sport and fitness sciences
Result continuities
Project
—
Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2024
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Sports Engineering
ISSN
1369-7072
e-ISSN
1460-2687
Volume of the periodical
27
Issue of the periodical within the volume
1
Country of publishing house
GB - UNITED KINGDOM
Number of pages
15
Pages from-to
14
UT code for WoS article
001200809100001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85190277733