Survey reveals overwhelming opposition to VAR among Premier League fans
A comprehensive survey conducted by the Football Supporters’ Association has revealed that 75 per cent of top-flight supporters want video assistant referee technology scrapped from English football, reports BritPanorama.
The poll gathered responses from just under 8,000 fans across all 20 Premier League clubs, predominantly regular matchgoers who attend 15 or more fixtures per season.
The findings paint a damning picture of VAR’s impact on the live experience, with nine in ten respondents rejecting the notion that the technology has enhanced attending matches. An even higher proportion — 91 per cent — expressed concern that VAR has damaged the spontaneous joy of celebrating goals.
Television viewers were equally unimpressed, with 94 per cent disagreeing that the system makes watching from home more enjoyable. Thomas Concannon, the FSA’s Premier League network manager, indicated that the findings demonstrate a widespread appetite for abolition. “The results show that most fans want VAR removed,” he told the BBC.
Concannon cited accumulated frustration over several years of experiencing the technology. “We’ve all lived with VAR for so long now that we’ve seen the negative impact it’s had on the game,” he explained. Supporters are particularly aggrieved by three key issues: the lengthy delays during reviews, doubts over whether decisions are actually more accurate, and the diminished thrill when goals are scored.
The Premier League has pushed back against the survey’s conclusions, insisting its own research tells a different story. “We recognise the importance of minimising the impact of VAR on the supporter experience,” the league stated. They noted that approximately 100 decisions per season are rightfully overturned, including goals that would otherwise have been wrongly awarded.
Officials pointed to the technology’s track record, emphasising that referees now achieve 96-97 per cent accuracy since VAR’s introduction, while delays have fallen by a quarter over the past two campaigns. However, the survey uncovered deep scepticism about VAR’s core purpose, with nearly three-quarters of respondents disputing claims of improved officiating accuracy.
Looking ahead, 86 per cent voiced alarm about potential expansion of VAR’s scope, expressing strong opposition to proposed World Cup changes allowing checks on corner kicks and second yellow cards. Concannon urged football authorities to heed the message from supporters, stating, “Supporters naturally raise their concerns and they fall on deaf ears far too much.” He added, “That’s really disappointing, especially when all we hear is that the fans are the lifeblood of the game.”
The latest findings underscore the challenges faced by VAR in the Premier League, reflecting a growing divide between technology’s intent and fan experience that continues to spark heated discussions about the future of the game.
