Home Categories About
argument top image
Should VAR be used in football? Should VAR be used in football?
Yes. VAR is a net positive to the game Yes. VAR is a net positive to the game
No. VAR has made football worse No. VAR has made football worse
Yes, but something needs to change Yes, but something needs to change
VAR makes the game fairer VAR makes the game fairer
VAR will reduce cheating and fouling VAR will reduce cheating and fouling
VAR can create a more attacking game VAR can create a more attacking game
Normal referees make too many mistakes Normal referees make too many mistakes
Goal-line technology in football was a great success Goal-line technology in football was a great success
VAR should lead to less complaining VAR should lead to less complaining
Fans can no longer celebrate goals in the same way Fans can no longer celebrate goals in the same way
Mistakes are part of the game Mistakes are part of the game
VAR kills the passion of the game VAR kills the passion of the game
VAR takes too long VAR takes too long
Football is too free-flowing for VAR Football is too free-flowing for VAR
VAR can't review everything VAR can't review everything
VAR could be fixed if it allowed for the 'benefit of the doubt' VAR could be fixed if it allowed for the 'benefit of the doubt'
VAR is being deliberately sabotaged in England VAR is being deliberately sabotaged in England
Video review has been a success in other sports Video review has been a success in other sports
Debate Mini Map

Should VAR be used in football?
Back to question

Yes. VAR is a net positive to the game

(1 of 3) Next position >

VAR makes the game fairer

VAR prevents teams from being denied victories by poor refereeing decisions or outright cheating. Ultimately, the officals' role is to be as impartial and fair as possible and so officials having the greatest amount of information is always good for the game.
Marouane Fellaini Manuel Pellegrini
(1 of 6) Next argument >

Context

VAR stands for Video assistance referee and is a new way technology is used to help football referees on the field when they make decisions. They are mainly used for determining goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards or mistaken identity incidents. The video footage helps the referee to take a decision after viewing the video material. Anyhow, the use of VAR is controversially discussed as it could potentially underpin the role of the referee on the field.

The Argument

VAR plays a crucial role in increasing the fairness in football as it allows the referee to make a more informed decision on incidents. Since it is in use, it has allowed for victories to be more impartial and not the result of a mistake of a referee or fool play that wasn’t detected. In that sense, it makes the chances of teams more equal and makes corrupt decisions of referees a lot less likely. This is mainly assured by having video footage from different angles that allows to capture more holistically than with the pair of eyes of the referee. Moreover, VAR makes sure that all contacts between the players are monitored and don’t rely on the close presence of the referee. Through this, the work of the referee is greatly rationalised and relies on several objective and scientific assessments of a situation before a controversial decision is made. In its vocation to make football fairer, it can also pacify the relations between competing teams. Overall, it helps to make decisions more transparent and understandable for the teams and fans.

Counter arguments

1) VAR is not necessarily making the game fairer as it is far from being a perfect system. It has a margin error of up to 38,8cm (14 inches) which proves that it is less effective than its proponents claim. It doesn’t allow for fully certain decision making due to the possibility of multiple interpretations. It doesn’t make football fairer or better.

Proponents

Framing

More oversight of the game will allow for better decisions and more fairness.

Premises

[P1] Several sources are more reliable than only one.

Rejecting the premises

[P1] The quality of a source is more important than the quantity of sources to make a decision.

References

This page was last edited on Thursday, 1 Oct 2020 at 07:34 UTC

Explore related arguments