Evaluating the Impact of Video Assistant Referee Implementation in Football: A Four-Season Analysis of Match Performance Trends
This study aimed to examine the influence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system on match performance indicators in professional football, specifically within the Turkish Super League. The objectives were two-fold: (i) to compare match variables such as yellow cards, red cards, goals, penalties...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Eren Akdağ Ali Işın Alberto Lorenzo Calvo Enrique Alonso Pérez Chao Sergio L. Jiménez Sáiz |
| author_facet | Eren Akdağ Ali Işın Alberto Lorenzo Calvo Enrique Alonso Pérez Chao Sergio L. Jiménez Sáiz |
| author_sort | Eren Akdağ |
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| description | This study aimed to examine the influence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system on match performance indicators in professional football, specifically within the Turkish Super League. The objectives were two-fold: (i) to compare match variables such as yellow cards, red cards, goals, penalties, fouls, and offsides between seasons with and without VAR, and (ii) to analyze the evolution of these variables across four consecutive seasons following VAR implementation. A total of 2636 matches were analyzed, comprising 1224 matches played without VAR (2014–2018) and 1412 matches played with VAR (2018–2022). Match data were obtained from InStat Scout<sup>®</sup> and included key indicators directly associated with referee decisions. Statistical analyses included the Independent Sample T-Test to assess differences between the pre- and post-VAR periods, One-Way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests to examine seasonal trends post-VAR, and generalized linear models to identify the effects of VAR implementation on each performance variable. The results revealed significant reductions in fouls, yellow cards, and offsides (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and a significant increase in penalties awarded (<i>p</i> < 0.001) following the introduction of VAR. No statistically significant differences were found for red cards or goals. Furthermore, the number of fouls committed showed a consistent decline across each season after VAR implementation, suggesting a long-term behavioral adaptation by players. These findings underscore the lasting impact of VAR on the dynamics of professional football matches and highlight the need for players, coaches, and referees to accordingly adapt their strategies. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting VAR’s role in improving decision accuracy, though its broader implications for game flow and player performance warrant further investigation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3ccd17be33934130af4ba0c476febc88 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-3ccd17be33934130af4ba0c476febc882025-08-20T01:49:27ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01159478910.3390/app15094789Evaluating the Impact of Video Assistant Referee Implementation in Football: A Four-Season Analysis of Match Performance TrendsEren Akdağ0Ali Işın1Alberto Lorenzo Calvo2Enrique Alonso Pérez Chao3Sergio L. Jiménez Sáiz4Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeSports Department, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte-INEF, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physical Activity and Sports Science, University Alfonso X el Sabio, Villanueva de la Cañada, Community of Madrid, 28691 Madrid, SpainSports Science Research Studies, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Fuenlabrada, 28943 Madrid, SpainThis study aimed to examine the influence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system on match performance indicators in professional football, specifically within the Turkish Super League. The objectives were two-fold: (i) to compare match variables such as yellow cards, red cards, goals, penalties, fouls, and offsides between seasons with and without VAR, and (ii) to analyze the evolution of these variables across four consecutive seasons following VAR implementation. A total of 2636 matches were analyzed, comprising 1224 matches played without VAR (2014–2018) and 1412 matches played with VAR (2018–2022). Match data were obtained from InStat Scout<sup>®</sup> and included key indicators directly associated with referee decisions. Statistical analyses included the Independent Sample T-Test to assess differences between the pre- and post-VAR periods, One-Way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests to examine seasonal trends post-VAR, and generalized linear models to identify the effects of VAR implementation on each performance variable. The results revealed significant reductions in fouls, yellow cards, and offsides (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and a significant increase in penalties awarded (<i>p</i> < 0.001) following the introduction of VAR. No statistically significant differences were found for red cards or goals. Furthermore, the number of fouls committed showed a consistent decline across each season after VAR implementation, suggesting a long-term behavioral adaptation by players. These findings underscore the lasting impact of VAR on the dynamics of professional football matches and highlight the need for players, coaches, and referees to accordingly adapt their strategies. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting VAR’s role in improving decision accuracy, though its broader implications for game flow and player performance warrant further investigation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4789VARreferee decisionssoccervideo technologytechnological aids |
| spellingShingle | Eren Akdağ Ali Işın Alberto Lorenzo Calvo Enrique Alonso Pérez Chao Sergio L. Jiménez Sáiz Evaluating the Impact of Video Assistant Referee Implementation in Football: A Four-Season Analysis of Match Performance Trends Applied Sciences VAR referee decisions soccer video technology technological aids |
| title | Evaluating the Impact of Video Assistant Referee Implementation in Football: A Four-Season Analysis of Match Performance Trends |
| title_full | Evaluating the Impact of Video Assistant Referee Implementation in Football: A Four-Season Analysis of Match Performance Trends |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Impact of Video Assistant Referee Implementation in Football: A Four-Season Analysis of Match Performance Trends |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Impact of Video Assistant Referee Implementation in Football: A Four-Season Analysis of Match Performance Trends |
| title_short | Evaluating the Impact of Video Assistant Referee Implementation in Football: A Four-Season Analysis of Match Performance Trends |
| title_sort | evaluating the impact of video assistant referee implementation in football a four season analysis of match performance trends |
| topic | VAR referee decisions soccer video technology technological aids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4789 |
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