It's six years since the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) arrived in soccer. Today it is, for better or for worse, fully woven into the fabric of the game around the world.
Before 2017, football was so much simpler. When a referee made a decision, it really was final. Fans could celebrate goals without fear, or waiting ages for replays. Supporters didn't need a geometry degree to understand the offside law. And they didn't have to put up with interminable discussions about almost every decision made by a referee.
- How VAR decisions have affected every Prem club in 2023-24
- VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide
Goal-line technology came first in 2012, and it proved to be a noninvasive, near-instant solution to a well-established problem.