VAR controversy grows as World Cup nears quarterfinals stage

WASHINGTON (TNND) — As the World Cup moves closer to the quarterfinals, video assistant referee reviews are again drawing criticism from fans who say the system is changing the feel of the tournament.

VAR, short for video assistant referee, was implemented to correct mistakes that can impact games. But in recent weeks it has also created controversy by turning some of the tournament’s biggest moments into lengthy reviews, with freeze-frame replays wiping out goals and after-the-fact red cards affecting not only the current match but the next one.

Supporters of the technology argue it is doing what it was designed to do by reducing human error. Critics counter that the process has replaced what should be moments of celebration with uncertainty, as referees and millions of viewers wait through slow-motion replays to determine fine margins — including whether a player’s left hand was behind the last defender before receiving a pass.

These moments included Folarin Balogun’s red card, which sparked a whirlwind of drama between Team USA and Belgium and ultimately eliminated the U.S. from the tournament. The system’s controversy also came out after Argentina’s comeback against Egypt. Egypt called out biased decisions, which FIFA denied.

The debate has now shifted from whether VAR works to whether some rules, including offsides, should be modified to improve the pace of play and preserve the excitement of the games as the tournament enters its later stages.