TRACING THE HISTORY OF VAR USE IN FOOTBALL
Video Assistant Referee or better known by the abbreviation VAR is one of the biggest technological innovations in the world of modern football.
Video Assistant Referee or better known by the abbreviation VAR is one of the biggest technological innovations in the world of modern football.
The main purpose of the presence of VAR is to help referees make more accurate decisions in matches.
Although it has only begun to be widely implemented in recent years, the basic idea behind using technology to assist decision making in football has emerged long before.
This article will discuss the history of the discovery of VAR, how it was developed, and how this technology has changed the face of world football.
The Beginning of the Idea of Technology in Football
The idea of using technology in football is not new. Over the years, many have criticized referees' decisions that are often controversial or even completely wrong, so that they can affect the results of important matches.
One of the most high-profile incidents was Frank Lampard's "ghost goal" at the 2010 World Cup between England and Germany, where the ball clearly crossed the goal line and was not awarded as a goal.
This article will discuss the history of the discovery of VAR, how it was developed, and how this technology has changed the face of world football.
The Beginning of the Idea of Technology in Football
The idea of using technology in football is not new. Over the years, many have criticized referees' decisions that are often controversial or even completely wrong, so that they can affect the results of important matches.
One of the most high-profile incidents was Frank Lampard's "ghost goal" at the 2010 World Cup between England and Germany, where the ball clearly crossed the goal line and was not awarded as a goal.
Pressure from coaches, players, media and fans for FIFA and other football bodies to adopt the technology grew stronger. Although many initially resisted, mainly on the grounds of preserving the "authenticity" of the game, the move towards technology was eventually inevitable.
The Birth of VAR: Trials and Development
As a product of the industrial revolution 4.0, VAR was first tested on a limited basis by FIFA and IFAB (International Football Association Board) in 2016.
The Birth of VAR: Trials and Development
As a product of the industrial revolution 4.0, VAR was first tested on a limited basis by FIFA and IFAB (International Football Association Board) in 2016.
This test was carried out in several leagues and small tournaments to evaluate how this technology could be practically applied on the field. VAR works with a video camera system installed in various corners of the field, and a team of video assistant referees who monitor the match in real-time from a separate room.
This team can make recommendations for reviewing the main referee's decision if there is an indication of potential major errors in four main categories:
VAR Official Debut
VAR was officially used for the first time during an international tournament at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
This is where the world really began to see how this system works. Although at that time the use of VAR was still controversial because of the long delays in decision-making, many considered that this system brought a higher level of fairness to the game.
Well, the peak of the application of VAR technology globally was during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This was the first time VAR was used in full at an event as big as the World Cup, and the results were quite significant: many crucial decisions that could have previously been missed or wrong could now be corrected.
One example is the penalty for France in the final against Croatia which was given after a VAR review.
Development and Acceptance in Various Leagues
fter successfully using VAR technology during the 2018 World Cup, many matches in top European leagues have begun to adopt this technology.
- Goals and or violations during goal creation
- Penalty decisions
- Direct red cards
- Incorrect player identification
VAR Official Debut
VAR was officially used for the first time during an international tournament at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
This is where the world really began to see how this system works. Although at that time the use of VAR was still controversial because of the long delays in decision-making, many considered that this system brought a higher level of fairness to the game.
Well, the peak of the application of VAR technology globally was during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This was the first time VAR was used in full at an event as big as the World Cup, and the results were quite significant: many crucial decisions that could have previously been missed or wrong could now be corrected.
One example is the penalty for France in the final against Croatia which was given after a VAR review.
Development and Acceptance in Various Leagues
fter successfully using VAR technology during the 2018 World Cup, many matches in top European leagues have begun to adopt this technology.
Leagues such as the Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga, and English Premier League all began implementing VAR between 2017 and 2019. The use of VAR is not always smooth, but improvements are being made for efficiency and accuracy.
In Indonesia itself, VAR began to be officially implemented in League 1 in 2024, marking a new era of more modern and transparent national football.
Controversy and Challenges
Although in theory VAR is intended to reduce errors, in practice this technology is not free from criticism. Some challenges that often arise include:
In Indonesia itself, VAR began to be officially implemented in League 1 in 2024, marking a new era of more modern and transparent national football.
Controversy and Challenges
Although in theory VAR is intended to reduce errors, in practice this technology is not free from criticism. Some challenges that often arise include:
- Decision time: The review process can sometimes take a long time and disrupt the flow of the match.
- Subjective interpretation: Although VAR shows video footage, the final decision remains in the hands of the referee, who can have a different interpretation than the VAR team.
- Transparency: Some parties want the communication between the referee and the VAR team to be heard by the public like in other sports (such as rugby or the NFL).
Conclusion
The use of VAR technology is clear evidence that the world of football is influenced by the rapid development of technology today.
Although initially full of pros and cons, now VAR has become an important part of major matches around the world.
The history of the birth of VAR is a reflection of the dynamics of changes in the world of football, how tradition and technology are interconnected to create a game that prioritizes fairness and transparency.
In the future, with the development of increasingly sophisticated technology, this system could be faster, more accurate, and more accepted by all parties.
In the future, with the development of increasingly sophisticated technology, this system could be faster, more accurate, and more accepted by all parties.
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