80% of football fans want to see VAR introduced in major competitions, according to survey

ALMOST four in five football fans believe a video assistant referee (VAR) should be introduced within major football competitions, according to a survey of 2,000 supporters.

The survey, which asked fans whether VAR should be used in competitions such as the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, found 78% supported the idea, with just 8% of fans rejecting its use within football.

The findings from BonusCodeBets.co.uk also found that the main reason given for not using VAR in matches was a dislike of change within the game. 64% fans who do not want to see the introduction of VAR said this is because football should “stay true to its origins”.

Just half rejected use of the technology on the grounds that it causes too many stoppages during games (49%).

But a quarter of other VAR-sceptics would support its implementation if improvements were made to its current application.

According to fans, the main improvements they would like to see for VAR are:

• 37% would prefer a limit on the number of appeals teams can make
• 34% think video replays of the analysis should be played within stadiums
• A quarter would like to see a stop-clock introduced in matches to prevent time being wasted by VAR
• 23% think referees should have a time limit to make decisions
• One in five would like officials to explain their decisions to spectators, as with rugby or American football

Fans were able to form their opinions on the current use of VAR after the recent trials in cup fixtures and international friendlies, and these helped change the mind of nearly one in five fans, who expressed a newfound support for using video assistants (17%).

However, the trials were less impressive for others – 9% now no longer want to see the technology introduced, after the recent tests.

Among Premier League fans, VAR is most highly supported by Brighton and Southampton, with 100% of followers surveyed from both clubs expressing a wish for its full implementation.

Burnley and Stoke supporters are the least keen on the idea as a third of Clarets (33%) and a quarter of Potters (25%) rejected VAR.

And for general football fans or followers of clubs outside the Premier League, an enthusiasm for a video assistant was lower (66%) compared to the average across all supporters.

Others may not feel a need for the technology because current refereeing standards are already up to scratch. This is especially apparent for fans of Bournemouth, with nine in ten supporters rating the standard of refereeing as “Good” or “Very good”, compared to an average of 76% across the Premier League.