VAR in 2025: Has Technology Helped or Hurt Football?

Five years after its global adoption, we examine how VAR has reshaped football — for better and for wors

When VAR (Video Assistant Referee) was first introduced, it promised fairness, accuracy, and a future free from howler decisions. But now, in 2025, the football world remains split.

While some hail it as a necessary evolution in a billion-dollar sport, others argue it has eroded the spontaneity, emotion, and flow that make football beautiful. This is a deep VAR review in 2025 — a balanced look at how technology has helped or hurt the game.

The Original Purpose of VAR

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) introduced VAR with four key use cases:

Goals (offside, handball, fouls)
Penalties
Direct red cards
Mistaken identity

The mission was clear: “minimum interference, maximum benefit.” But the reality has proven more complicated.

Where VAR Has Helped

Clear and Obvious Mistakes Are Corrected

Gone are the days when an offside goal from three yards stood unchallenged. VAR has:

Erased blatant errors
Reduced referee abuse
Improved overall accuracy of decisions

Game-Changing Moments Now Reviewed

Major tournaments — World Cups, UEFA competitions, domestic finals — have benefited from added layers of scrutiny. Incorrect red cards and missed penalties are now rarer.

Player Behavior Has Improved

Knowing they’re always being watched, players have become:

Less likely to dive
More careful with tackles
More respectful of boundaries

Where VAR Has Hurt Football

Delays Disrupt Match Flow

VAR checks can take 1–3 minutes, often with players and fans left in suspense. Momentum dies, and goals are celebrated twice — or not at all.

Marginal Offsides Undermine Logic

VAR’s obsession with millimetric offsides has:

Disallowed goals for shoulders, toes, or armpits
Frustrated fans and pundits alike
Made “level is on” feel obsolete

Transparency Remains Lacking

Unlike rugby or cricket, football fans:

Can’t hear what refs are reviewing
Don’t always see the angle being used
Get vague explanations after the match

Even in 2025, this hasn’t been fixed consistently across leagues.

Technology’s Broader Impact on Football Refereeing

VAR has made referees more reliant on video confirmation — some argue too reliant. On-field decision-making confidence has dropped in some cases, especially in younger or lower-league officials.

Still, VAR has inspired improvements in:

Referee fitness and positioning
Use of semi-automated offside tech (as used in the 2022 & 2023 FIFA tournaments)
Referee communication training

What the Data Says (2025 Snapshot)

91% of reviewed VAR decisions in top leagues are deemed correct (source: IFAB 2025 report)
Average VAR check time has dropped from 100s in 2021 to 62s in 2025
Over 67% of fans still say VAR is “necessary but needs improvement” (UEFA fan survey)

Conclusion: Still a Work in Progress

VAR has absolutely improved fairness — but at the cost of rhythm, fan emotion, and simplicity. In 2025, it’s no longer a question of “should we use VAR?” but “how can we use it better?”

To truly help football, VAR must evolve with the same passion and precision the sport itself demands.