Nearly a decade after its introduction, the audio from Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews remains largely inaccessible to live stadium audiences, a situation many fans find frustrating. While television viewers may receive some context, those attending matches are often left in the dark about the reasoning behind crucial decisions.
Recent controversial incidents have highlighted this disconnect. In a match where Manchester City secured a 1-0 win against their opponents, the offside call involving Erling Haaland and Enzo Fernandez was complex, yet Old Trafford's 74,161 attendees were not privy to the VAR discussion. Similarly, during Crystal Palace's 3-2 loss to Ipswich Town, Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi stood on the sideline for over a minute as VAR checked a red card offense, with fans at Selhurst Park receiving no immediate clarification.
Howard Webb, who took over as the Premier League referees' chief in 2022, had pledged greater transparency. The Premier League has introduced initiatives like the "Match Officials Mic'd Up" TV show, following the lead of Major League Soccer (MLS), which began sharing VAR audio after matches in 2019 through its "Inside VAR" program. Webb himself was part of an MLS experiment in 2020 that broadcasted live VAR audio during the MLS is Back Tournament, considered a success at the time.
However, attempts to bring live VAR audio directly into matches globally have stalled. The International Football Association Board (Ifab), football's lawmakers, and FIFA have expressed reservations. Concerns cited include the quality of global communications, the potential for increased pressure on officials during reviews, and the impact on referee credibility, particularly given the subjective nature of many decisions.
Lukus Brud, Ifab secretary and chief executive, previously described live audio broadcasts as potentially "chaotic" due to the volume of communication. While the Premier League has experimented with broadcasting VAR audio transcripts and having referees announce decisions at the pitchside monitor, progress on live audio has been limited.
Some leagues offer more immediate transparency. Spain's La Liga publishes VAR audio and video of subjective interventions a few hours after matches conclude via social media. In contrast, Italy's Serie A canceled its "Open VAR" show last season due to pressure on officials, and Germany's Bundesliga primarily shares audio clips only when relevant.
Even if live audio were to become available, practical challenges remain. Many checks occur during active play, making it difficult for commentators to seamlessly integrate the audio without disrupting the game's flow. A more feasible approach, similar to cricket's Decision Review System (DRS), might involve broadcasting audio only when a referee is reviewing a decision at the pitchside monitor. However, this would still fall short of the full transparency fans desire. Football's adoption of technology has historically lagged behind other sports, and the release of live VAR audio appears to be a slow-moving development.