The Premier League has defended VAR following a Football Supporters' Association survey showing 75%t of fans oppose the video assistant referee system
Amie Wilson Sports writer
11:57, 30 Mar 2026Updated 12:08, 30 Mar 2026
The LED board shows the VAR check for a penalty to Sunderland, which is given by referee Stuart Attwell during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Sunderland at Elland Road.
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VAR has been a big talking point since its introduction to the Premier League. (Image: Stu Forster, Getty Images)
The Premier League have hit back at a survey showing the vast majority of supporters oppose the use of VAR.
Video assistant referee technology was introduced in 2019 and has remained a major point of contention among fans and pundits ever since, thanks to supporters often having to endure long delays as they wait for decisions and a string of high profile controversial mistakes, like the infamous disallowed Luiz Diaz goal for Liverpool against Tottenham in 2023.
A poll of just under 8,000 supporters by the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) found that 75% oppose the use of VAR. Additionally, 90% say the technology's implementation has failed to improve the matchday experience. In their response, the Premier League have highlighted their own survey results, as well as figures demonstrating the beneficial effect they claim VAR has brought to the sport.
Luis Diaz Liverpool offisde Tottenham
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Luiz Diaz's disallowed goal for Liverpool against Tottenham was one of VAR's biggest howlers
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In a statement, they said: "We recognise the importance of minimising the impact of VAR on the supporter experience.
"As part of ongoing dialogue with supporters, Premier League research indicates fans are largely in favour of keeping VAR, but improving the way it is used."
They added: "VAR delivers more correct decisions. In recent seasons, there have been around 100 correct VAR overturns per season - instances where goals would otherwise have been incorrectly awarded or disallowed, or red cards or penalties missed or wrongly given.
"The league applies a high threshold for VAR intervention, with the referee's call taking precedence. As a result, VAR is less intrusive in the Premier League than in other European leagues, including the Champions League, where VAR intervenes almost twice as often."
Match referee Craig Pawson examines the VAR screen during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Fulham at the Stadium of Light.
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Referees have started announcing subjective decisions on the pitch. (Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Since its launch, VAR has received several small changes, including the rollout of semi-automated offside technology. This season, referees have started announcing subjective decisions over the stadium's PA system.
Despite these alterations, the supporters polled continue to express their disapproval of the technology.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the FSA's Premier League network manager Thomas Concannon remarked: "The results show that most fans want VAR removed.
"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 [impact on] spontaneity.
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"It does take away from what football is meant to be and what those special moments are about."
Recent reports revealed that officiating mistakes on the pitch and via VAR have increased across most categories in this season's Premier League.
BBC Sport conveyed statistics from the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel last week, which identified another four blunders by match officials in its most recent findings.
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This brought the season's tally to 54 - at the equivalent point last campaign that figure stood at 44.