Few debates in English football spark as much passion as the one surrounding VAR in the Premier League. Since its introduction, the video assistant referee has divided fans, pundits, and clubs alike. While some see it as a necessary tool for accuracy, others feel it has drained the life from the game they love.
What fans really think about VAR in the Premier League
The Football Supporters Association (FSA) recently published survey results that sent shockwaves through the football world. Nearly 8,000 supporters were asked about their views on the video assistant referee, and the findings were striking. Three in four fans said they opposed VAR’s use in the top flight. These were not casual viewers — more than half of respondents attend at least 15 matches per season, making their voices particularly significant.
The FSA’s Premier League network manager, Thomas Concannon, was blunt in his response : “Supporters naturally raise their concerns and they fall on deaf ears far too much.” He stressed that fan dissatisfaction cannot keep being brushed aside. The enjoyment of football, he argued, has clearly declined compared to what it once was.
The survey data paints a detailed picture of the scale of discontent :
- 72% of fans disagree that VAR has improved refereeing accuracy
- 74% say the reasoning behind VAR decisions lacks clarity
- 86% are worried about any further expansion of VAR’s scope
- 72% oppose using VAR to check whether corners were correctly awarded
- 52% are against using VAR to review second yellow card decisions
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, called VAR “the worst thing that has been introduced to the game.” He argued it has ruined the joy inside stadiums, made refereeing more difficult rather than easier, and remains fundamentally subjective — which defeats much of its original purpose.
High-profile VAR controversies that shaped the debate
A handful of incidents have come to define the growing frustration with VAR decisions in the Premier League. In October 2023, Luis Diaz scored what appeared to be a legitimate goal for Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur. The strike was ruled out for offside, yet still images clearly showed defender Cristian Romero playing Diaz onside. The PGMOL later admitted it was “a clear and obvious factual error” — the very type of mistake VAR was designed to prevent. Liverpool’s official statement declared that sporting integrity had been undermined.
Arsenal supporters have their own bitter memories. In February 2023, VAR official Lee Mason failed to use the offside lines during a 1-1 draw with Brentford at the Emirates. Ivan Toney’s equaliser stood despite strong indications that Christian Norgaard was offside in the build-up. Manager Mikel Arteta did not mince his words : “It wasn’t human error, it was not understanding your job.” Mason subsequently left the PGMOL, and the lost points were never restored.
Then came the October 2024 West Ham vs Manchester United clash. Danny Ings went down in the penalty area, referee David Coote waved play on, but VAR Michael Oliver advised a monitor review. A penalty was awarded, Jarrod Bowen converted, and West Ham won 2-1. Referees’ chief Howard Webb later acknowledged the penalty should never have been given. More dramatically, Erik ten Hag was sacked the following day — a decision with far-reaching consequences for Manchester United’s entire season.
| Incident | Date | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Diaz goal disallowed vs Tottenham | October 2023 | PGMOL admits clear error; goal should have stood |
| Brentford equaliser vs Arsenal | February 2023 | Offside lines not used; Lee Mason leaves PGMOL |
| West Ham penalty vs Man Utd | October 2024 | Penalty wrongly awarded; ten Hag sacked next day |
| Coventry goal ruled out vs Man Utd (FA Cup) | 2024 | Offside technically correct; widespread emotional backlash |
The Coventry case deserves special mention. The Championship club had clawed back a 3-0 deficit against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final. A Victor Torp goal in the 121st minute appeared to complete one of football’s great comebacks. VAR intervened, ruling Haji Wright offside in the build-up. The decision was technically accurate, yet it reignited the debate about whether marginal correctness is worth the emotional cost to supporters.
Can VAR be fixed, or should it be scrapped entirely ?
Despite overwhelming fan opposition, removing VAR from the Premier League remains unlikely. In 2024, 19 of the 20 top-flight clubs voted to retain the system. Only Wolverhampton Wanderers voted against, having themselves proposed the poll. Under current rules, 14 clubs would need to back abolition before any change could happen.
The Premier League insists the technology delivers results. According to the league, VAR produces around 100 correct overturns per season — goals rightly awarded or disallowed, red cards and penalties correctly applied. Officials also argue that the Premier League applies a stricter threshold for intervention than other competitions, meaning VAR is actually less intrusive here than in the Champions League.
Some, like former footballer Micah Richards, believe involving ex-professionals in VAR decisions could improve consistency and reduce the subjective element. Others feel the system needs tighter limitations — restricting reviews to clear factual errors only, such as blatant offsides or violent conduct, rather than borderline judgement calls.
Meanwhile, at international level, the International Football Association Board (Ifab) has approved an expanded VAR remit for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. From June 2026, corners and second yellow cards will fall within VAR’s scope, alongside new timing measures to reduce time-wasting. Whether this expansion reassures or alarms Premier League fans is, itself, telling — 86% of those surveyed already fear a broader VAR reach. The debate is far from over.
