Fox Sports broadcaster Derek Rae, once a proponent of video assistant referee (VAR) technology, now believes its implementation in soccer has become overused, particularly in the wake of several controversial decisions during the recent World Cup. Rae shared his evolving perspective on "Sports Media with Richard Deitsch," explaining that while he initially saw VAR as a necessary tool to correct egregious errors, its current application has moved beyond its intended scope.
Rae recalled being an early advocate for VAR, envisioning a future where fans in the stands could use their phones to review plays and reach more accurate conclusions than referees. He pointed to Thierry Henry's handball against Ireland in the 2010 World Cup qualifying playoff as a moment that highlighted the need for a review system, stating that such an incident might have been avoided with video technology.
He noted that the 2018 World Cup in Russia represented a period when VAR was used judiciously, correcting clear mistakes without fundamentally altering the game's flow. However, Rae observed a shift in its application during the most recent World Cup, where VAR has significantly influenced the outcomes of multiple high-stakes matches.
Rae experienced this firsthand while broadcasting the Argentina-Egypt Round of 16 match, which saw Argentina advance after several contentious VAR decisions. One such decision involved disallowing Egypt's second goal due to a foul that occurred over 100 yards away from where the goal was scored. Rae's broadcast partner, Rob Green, questioned the decision during the match, stating that VAR was not intended for such distant infractions and that its powers had extended too far.
Controversy surrounding VAR continued in subsequent rounds, influencing key games such as the England-Norway quarterfinal and the Argentina-Switzerland match. Despite his criticisms, Rae maintained that VAR should not be eliminated entirely. "I still think we need it," Rae said. "But I think we need to pare it back."