Technology in Soccer

Technology has played a major role in the development of the game of soccer worldwide. Major football federations including FIFA, UEFA and other continental and country football associations have employed the use of technology to improve the game of soccer. In the 21st century most especially, there have been major noticeable improvements in the quality of television coverages, soccer pitches, stadia, balls, training methods and refereeing.

What has turned out to be the trending news in the game of soccer is the inclusion of video assistant referees in the ongoing confederations cup in Russia. The video assistant referees who are referred to as VAR’s are being tested ahead of the FIFA world cup next year. VAR’s so far have disallowed offside goals, allowed wrongly cancelled goals and called for the show of cards to infringing players at the confederations cup. Their involvement in the ongoing FIFA confederations cup has been greeted by reactions from soccer fans, commentators, analysts and lovers of the game worldwide. The major duty of VAR’s is to alter wrong decisions made by center referees and lines men that could affect a football match in the game of soccer. Many have supported the use of VAR’s in football matches because of the sanity it would bring to the game of soccer and how it would effectively cut out “cheating” on-field in the game of soccer. These supporters claim that VAR’S will caution players who sync deceit into their on-field activities and referees whose decisions are based on bias or carelessness.

Many others view the involvement of VAR’s as a surreal addition to the game of soccer. They believe VAR’s would eradicate the beauty of controversies that make up football matches and complain about how long it takes for referees to make decisions when VAR’s cut in. Indeed, VAR’s contribute to breaks that slow down the pace and excitement of football matches and as such their process of redirecting referees should be sped up.

The use of VAR is still in its testing stage and can still be worked on as the confederations cup progresses and in other FIFA matches ahead of the world cup next year. Since the FIFA president, Giovanni Infantino, has insisted on the use of VAR’s in the world cup next year, the use of VAR’s has to be improved upon to effectively reap the gains without creating unnecessary commotions among players and discontents among fans.

In my opinion, VAR’s are welcome. What’s yours?