VAR has contributed to 99.3 percent of refereeing decisions at the World Cup being correct, according to FIFA. Video technology is being used for the first time in a World Cup, although the Premier League is among those yet to introduce it beyond trials. Coaches and players have been critical of VAR throughout the tournament. Portugal defender Jose Fonte described the technology as “unacceptable”, while Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara said using the system “loses a little essence of football”. However, Pierluigi Collina – chairman of the FIFA referees committee – defended the use of VAR and suggested it has had a positive impact at the World Cup overall, despite tweaks being required.
“During a competition, it’s not possible that everything goes 100 percent perfectly,” Collina said.
“Some things have to be fine-tuned based on what is occurring in the first matches.
“95 percent of the decisions taken by the referees without the VAR were correct, and this percentage increased to 99.3 percent thanks to the intervention of the VAR.
“Something that’s always been said – VAR does not mean perfection. But as you can see 99.3 percent is something that is very, very close.”