A resounding 75% of Premier League supporters want the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system scrapped, according to a damning new survey published by the Football Supporters' Association (FSA).
Polling nearly 8,000 fans across all 20 top-flight clubs, the comprehensive study paints a bleak picture of the technology's impact on the beautiful game. For matchgoers and television viewers alike, patience for VAR appears to have evaporated.
According to the findings, a staggering 91% of respondents feel the system has ruined the pure, spontaneous joy of celebrating a goal. Furthermore, 90% argue that VAR has actively damaged the in-stadium matchday experience, while 94% say it has made watching televised broadcasts significantly less enjoyable.
"The results show that most fans want VAR removed," said Thomas Concannon, the FSA’s Premier League network manager. "We've all lived with VAR for so long now that we've seen the negative impact it's had on the game. People are annoyed about the time that it takes, annoyed about the accuracy, and annoyed about the reduced spontaneity."
Concannon added that the highly scrutinized technology is stripping away "what football is meant to be and what those special moments are about."
The survey's demographic was heavily weighted toward dedicated supporters, with over half of the respondents attending at least 15 live matches a season. Their grievances go far beyond just delayed celebrations:
- 72% do not believe VAR has improved refereeing accuracy.
- 74% find the explanations behind VAR decisions confusing or entirely unclear.
- 86% are deeply concerned about the technology's ever-expanding influence on the sport.
This apprehension regarding expansion is particularly relevant given upcoming global rule changes. The survey revealed widespread opposition to utilizing VAR for checking corner kick decisions (72% against) and second yellow cards (52% against)—both of which are slated for implementation at the upcoming World Cup.
Adding fuel to the fire, recent data indicates an alarming rise in both on-field officiating errors and VAR blunders in the Premier League. As Concannon pointed out, fans and pundits are now dissecting refereeing decisions more intensely than ever, despite the presence of a multi-million-pound system designed to eliminate those exact debates.
In response to the FSA's scathing report, the Premier League defended the technology.
"We recognise the importance of minimising the impact of VAR on the supporter experience," the league said in an official statement.
However, officials pushed back on the idea of abolishing the system entirely, claiming that their own internal research suggests "fans are largely in favour of keeping VAR, but improving the way it is used."