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VAR - Definition and Origin
VAR or Virtual Assistant Referee is the introduction of camera technology as well as a few digital tools in order to reduce human error and is utilized for what would be close offsides, card penalties, penalty kicks, etc. The idea first game into proposal by the Royal Netherlands Football Association from around 2010-2013. -
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VAR - First Mock Trials
VAR was utilized during the 2013-2014 season of Netherland’s highest competitive league on a mock trail period to see if the idea would stick beyond their proposal. A formal proposal for more widespread trials and implementation were sent in following the seasons end. Medeiros, João (23 June 2018). "The inside story of how FIFA's controversial VAR system was born". Wired UK. Condé Nast Britain. -
FIFA Corruption Scandal
The International Football Association Board, which has a governing body through FIFA, had a leadership change following a huge corruption scandal. The president who was opposed to new technology in the game was forced out, replaced by one who was excited for the more fair aspect of the game. -
First Live VAR Match
PSV and FC Eindhoven played a July friendly, serving as the first full instance of VAR in the sport of soccer. Clarey, Christopher. “Video Review Will Make the World Cup Better, but Not Quieter.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 June 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/06/17/sports/world-cup/world-cup-referee-var.html. -
Ya uuuuFirst MLS Reserves VAR Trialoko
MLS, or the equivalent of the NBA or NFL of soccer in America, had a friendly between two sets of reserve, or essentially backup players, in which VAR was utilized. Two key decisions were madehbb utilizing the VAR, resulting in two card penalties. https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/2019/04/01/a-brief-history-and-defense-of-var/ -
First non-friend VAR match
The match, one in an early round of a cup competition in the Netherlands, saw Ajax and Willem II play with usage of VAR. However, they failed to properly explain to fans in the stadium and watching online clearly, leading to confusion and promises of more clarity going forward. https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/2019/04/01/a-brief-history-and-defense-of-var/ -
2017 - MLS adopts VAR
For the 2017-18 competitive season, the MLS adopted VAR technology, fully bringing it to America before it became widespread in Europe. In local pride, it’s first usage actually benefitted the Philadelphia team by disallowing a Dallas goal! #DOOP! https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/2019/04/01/a-brief-history-and-defense-of-var/ -
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German and Italian Leagues Adopt VAR
The German and Italian leagues of soccer, two of the most historically famous and successful leagues, joined the MLS in adopting the VAR technology for the 2017-8 season, two years before the British league would. https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/2019/04/01/a-brief-history-and-defense-of-var/ -
First VAR Referee Intervention
In an Australian match, a handball in the box was properly identified by the virtual assistant referee (a physical referee operates the computer technology), resulting in a penalty kick for the other team. https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/2019/04/01/a-brief-history-and-defense-of-var/ -
First VAR training center
An official center to train referees with the technology properly and fully to promote literacy of the resources opened in Italy in January of 2018. This in part enabled the growth and acceptance of the technology. -
VAR - Full adoption
The International Football Association Board unanimously voted to adopt the VAR technology into the game, leading in the next few years a rollout process to adopt into the British league (2019-20 season) and the UEFA Champion and FA Cup competitions (very prestigious trophies and events). The Olympic body further agreed. https://www.premierleague.com/news/1293198 -
Where do we stand today?
The issue with VAR is human error because some calls that should be reviewed were not and even with the review, fans will still claim the referee is biased against their team. Regardless, it has led to more transparency on calls, more accurate calls, and less (not total absence of) human bias than before and new technologies such as the off sides one ultimately improve the game.there are no major efforts at the moment to undo VAR.
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/var-football-world-cup