Left in the dark - will fans ever get to hear live VAR audio?
Summary
Many football fans at stadiums do not hear the conversations between referees and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team during key decisions. While TV viewers often get explanations from commentators who hear these discussions, stadium fans remain unaware. Attempts to broadcast VAR audio live during matches have faced challenges, and football's governing bodies have yet to approve such changes.Key Facts
- Fans in stadiums usually cannot hear the VAR conversations during important refereeing decisions.
- TV commentators listen to VAR communication and explain decisions to viewers.
- The Premier League referee chief, Howard Webb, has pushed for more openness about VAR decisions.
- Major League Soccer (MLS) tested live VAR audio broadcasts during some matches in 2020.
- MLS’s experiment was successful but did not lead to wider adoption in football.
- Football’s governing bodies, including IFAB and FIFA, have concerns about broadcasting VAR audio live.
- Concerns include communication quality, pressure on referees, and possible confusion from hearing multiple voices.
- Discussions about live VAR audio happen regularly but no major rule changes have been made.
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