VAR technology reshapes World Cup refereeing

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was introduced to soccer in late 2018 and has been shown to raise decision accuracy, with studies reporting an increase from 92% to 98% across 2,195 matches in 13 countries. In the World Cup round‑of‑16 match between England and Mexico, two VAR interventions led to a red card for England and a penalty for Mexico, sparking debate among fans and pundits. England manager Thomas Tuchel criticised the officiating, saying “the referees are just not good enough, the fourth officials are just not good enough”.

Research indicates VAR also changes referee behaviour: fewer line‑ball calls, fewer red cards and penalties, and signs of increased mental fatigue in games that require VAR reviews. While VAR improves the proportion of correct calls—e.g., 95% of English Premier League decisions are overturned after VAR—it cannot deliver 100% agreement and often interrupts play, contributing to its unpopularity among supporters.