Technology in soccer has always been a topic of debate, and there are lots of ways we could use or limit it. Most types of technology bring more accurate refereeing calls, such as Video Assistant Referee (VAR). VAR uses cameras to check footage from multiple angles to get the most accurate decision. However, whether VAR should be used has been debated a lot due to how much it slows the game down. Whether it is worth the time it takes to stop the game and review the play depends on personal opinion. I think VAR is worth using, because while one mistaken referee decision might not seem significant, it could be the difference between a win and a draw, which is enough to alter the winner of a season. In the 2024-25 Premier League season, 82 incorrect calls from the referee were overturned to either award or disallow a goal (Johnson). This statistic shows just how significant VAR is, and without it, the result of the season would be completely different. While it slows the game down, the importance of accurate refereeing decisions is enough to warrant the time loss, at least in my opinion.
However some systems that help referees make accurate calls don't slow the game down at all, such as goal-line technology. Goal-line technology is much less controversial than VAR, because it takes no time out of the game. It works by having cameras positioned above the lines of the field to track whether the ball fully crosses the boundary lines or not. The World Cup had 14 cameras for each stadium to provide many angles to be as accurate as possible (FIFA). Oftentimes, referees have watches which automatically get a signal if the ball crosses the line and goes out of play, making it easy for referees to make those decisions. I think goal-line technology should definitely be used, because it helps make accurate decisions while not taking time away from the game. Whether the ball crosses the line or not might seem like a small detail, but it actually matters a lot since the ball has to fully cross the goal line to be considered a goal. For example, in 2016, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a save against Bayer Leverkusen where the ball looked like it crossed the line but didn't, and Tottenham ended up winning that game 1-0, which really shows the impact goal-line technology can have.
Semi-automated offsides is another technology that helps referees. Offsides is one of the most common reasons for a goal to be disallowed, and it happens a lot in games. This means we need to be able to do quick, accurate offside checks, which is where semi-automated offside technology comes in. It speeds up offsides checks by drawing offside lines for the referee to check, making the whole process a lot quicker and easier. This technology, similar to goal-line technology, doesn't have much of a downside. The only real con is that it requires many high-quality cameras, which are expensive, but since top soccer leagues have plenty of spending money, it's not a problem.
While refereeing technology in soccer can have some downsides, such as more stops in play and higher cost due to cameras, the increased accuracy of refereeing decisions makes it worth it in my opinion. The difference that seemingly small decisions can make is undeniable, and even a decision of whether the ball crossed the line or not can cost a team a crucial goal. Because of the importance of accurate decisions and the impact of every small detail in a soccer game, I think technology should be used in soccer.
Works Cited
"Goal-line Technology." FIFA, 8 Nov. 2022, inside.fifa.com/innovation/ world-cup-2022/goal-line-technology. Accessed 24 Sept. 2025.
Johnson, Dale. "How VAR Decisions Affect Each Premier League Club in 2024-25."
ESPN, 25 May 2025, www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40894476/
how-var-decisions-affect-premier-league-club-2024-25. Accessed 24 Sept.
2025.
VAR is a brilliant invention but the EPL is ruining it with the way it's being used. Specifically, I'm against using it when the correct call itself is somewhat subjective, and the VAR review doesn't find conclusive evidence to overturn the call. It is only supposed to be used when a "clear and obvious error" has occured, yet the officials find ways to invoke it when it's clearly not needed, or worse yet, when it fails to make the right call. VAR intervened to overturn a penalty to Arsenal in the Newcastle game on Sunday, which was a similar scenario to a penalty given to Brighton against Arsenal, yet wasn't overturned by VAR. The failure to overturn the Lewis-Skelly red card against Wolves and the bizarre decision to upgrade Saliba to a red card against Bournemouth last season further highlight VAR's inconsistencies, so I believe its use should be more restricted. Focusing on semi-automated offsides and goal line technology has definitely improved the objective calls, so I support that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Boyou in the fact that VAR is an amazing invention, and while I don't have as many problems with it, I very much understand how it slows down the game so much. One thing that comes to mind when thinking about this is the new system being tested in the U20 World Cup with FVS (Football Video Support), and how coaches have 2 appeals per game, with the appeal being retained if it is successful. I can see how this would much speed up the process and encourage the use solely for "Clear and Obvious errors", and discourage the use for much smaller, unnecessary things.
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ReplyDeleteLike Boyou and Neil said, I don’t think VAR is worth using because it slows the game down too much and takes away from the excitement. While I understand your point about accuracy, I feel like soccer is fun because of its fast pace gameplay. Your examples and stats were really good though and they helped show why people support VAR.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, I agree with adien that VAR should be used in soccer despite the time it takes from the game. I think VAR is more fair to the players who have their seasons and reputations at risk. I also believe that technology will become better, faster and cheaper to use and should be integrated now before the idea of better soccer technology becomes out of the question.
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