How Technology Changed the Game Called Sports

Video Assistant Referee (Football)

Football’s first use of video technology to correct decisions has been in the scene for more than two years now. VAR technology has been already used in 2018 World Cup, Italian Series A, German Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and more. How it works? VAR speaks to the on-field referee through an ear-piece and he put his hands up to pause play and informs the players a decision is being reviewed. Only four categories of decisions can be reviewed, i.e. Goals, Penalties, Direct Red Card, and Mistaken Identity. The VAR team reviews the decision at the VAR room and informs the referee about it.

However, various criticisms were raised especially in creating as much confusion as clarity as significant amount of time is lost while reviewing, which kills the flow of the game. Nonetheless, the VAR systems improve the way to correct ‘clear obvious errors’ and ‘serious missed incidents’. Five times Ballon’ d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo commented on the VAR, “I like VAR because it eliminates mistakes, but in any case, it is difficult for the referee to make it work. We need to let them work,” Ronaldo said on the matter.