VAR is trying to kill the joy of this World Cup
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The World Cup has delivered many joyful moments, such as Messi's goals and the U.S. team's strong performance, creating an exciting spectacle for fans.
- A dramatic moment of elation occurred when Croatia scored a late goal against Portugal, only for it to be disallowed by VAR due to an almost imperceptible offsides call detected by advanced sensor technology in the ball.
- While VAR and goal-line technology have generally improved fairness by correcting clear errors, their increasing reliance on ultra-precise data is leading to decisions based on marginal infractions that human eyes cannot perceive.
- Critics argue that this hyper-technical enforcement, exemplified by Croatia's disallowed goal, undermines the spirit and emotional impact of the game, as technology begins to overshadow human judgment and the natural flow of football.
- FIFA acknowledges the use of "Connected Ball Technology" to make fast, accurate decisions, but this precision risks making memorable moments feel unjust and detracting from the fans' experience.
