{"id":5265,"date":"2026-07-17T08:10:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T08:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/17\/at-the-world-cup-has-var-gone-too-far-some-fans-say-its-ruining-the-tournament\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T08:10:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T08:10:01","slug":"at-the-world-cup-has-var-gone-too-far-some-fans-say-its-ruining-the-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=5265","title":{"rendered":"At the World Cup, has &#8216;VAR&#8217; gone too far? Some fans say it&#8217;s ruining the tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"storytitle\">\n<h1>At the World Cup, has &#8216;VAR&#8217; gone too far? Some fans say it&#8217;s ruining the tournament<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORYTITLE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"story-meta\" class=\"story-meta has-byline\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one-inner\">\n<div class=\"dateblock\">\n    <time datetime=\"2026-07-17T04:00:00-04:00\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"date\">July 17, 2026<\/span><span class=\"time\">4:00 AM ET<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/time>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE-INNER\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-meta__two\">\n<div id=\"storybyline\" class=\"storybyline-wrap linkLocation\">\n<div class=\"bucketwrap byline\">\n<div class=\"byline-container--block\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--block byline--has-link\" aria-label=\"Byline\">\n<div class=\"byline__photo\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/297147616\/jasmine-garsd\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2022\/11\/08\/jasmine_garsd_sq-4c8c19bbc9cbc344932e1dc511d096dfafbaf77b.jpg?s=100&amp;c=85&amp;f=jpeg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Headshot of Jasmine Garsd\" data-template=\"https:\/\/media.npr.org\/assets\/img\/2022\/11\/08\/jasmine_garsd_sq-4c8c19bbc9cbc344932e1dc511d096dfafbaf77b.jpg?s={width}&amp;c={quality}&amp;f={format}\" data-format=\"jpeg\"><br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<p class=\"byline__name byline__name--block\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/297147616\/jasmine-garsd\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n      Jasmine Garsd<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP BYLINE\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__TWO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"STORY-META\" CLASS=\"STORY-META HAS-BYLINE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"headlineaudio\" class=\"storylocation linkLocation\">\n<article id=\"resnx-s1-9848320\" class=\"bucketwrap resaudio\" aria-label=\"audio-module\">\n<div class=\"audio-module\">\n<h4 class=\"audio-module-title\">VAR at the World Cup: Helpful or hindrance?<\/h4>\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls-wrap\" data-audio='{\"uid\":\"nx-s1-5896544:nx-s1-9848320\",\"available\":true,\"duration\":253,\"title\":\"VAR at the World Cup: Helpful or hindrance?\",\"audioUrl\":\"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2026\/07\/20260714_atc_var_at_the_world_cup_helpful_or_hindrance.mp3?t=progseg&amp;e=nx-s1-5858942&amp;p=2&amp;seg=3&amp;d=253&amp;size=4064279&amp;sc=siteplayer\",\"storyUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/17\/nx-s1-5896544\/2026-world-cup-fifa-var-video-assitant-referee\",\"slug\":\"soccer edition\",\"program\":\"\",\"affiliation\":\"\",\"song\":\"\",\"artist\":\"\",\"album\":\"\",\"track\":0,\"type\":\"segment\",\"subtype\":\"other\",\"skipSponsorship\":false,\"hasAdsWizz\":false,\"isStreamAudioType\":false,\"podcastEpisodeRawType\":\"\",\"podcastEpisodeDerivedPlusType\":\"\"}' data-audio-metrics=\"[]\">\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls audio-module-controls--no-js\">\n            <a class=\"audio-module-listen\" href=\"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2026\/07\/20260714_atc_var_at_the_world_cup_helpful_or_hindrance.mp3?t=progseg&amp;e=nx-s1-5858942&amp;p=2&amp;seg=3&amp;d=253&amp;size=4064279&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\"><br \/>\n                <b class=\"audio-module-listen-inner\"><br \/>\n                    <b class=\"audio-module-listen-text\"><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-cta\"><br \/>\n                            Listen<br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-listen-duration\"><br \/>\n                            <span>\u00b7 <\/span><br \/>\n                            <span>4:13<\/span><br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                    <\/b><br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n                <time class=\"audio-module-duration\" datetime=\"P4M,13S\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"audio-module-duration__initial-value\">4:13<\/span><br \/>\n                <\/time>\n        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"audio-module-tools\">\n            <a class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-transcript\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/transcripts\/nx-s1-5896544\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_click_transcript\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5896544\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9848320\",\"title\":\"At the World Cup, has &amp;#39;VAR&amp;#39; gone too far? Some fans say it&amp;#39;s ruining the tournament\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><\/p>\n<p>                <b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Transcript<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n        <button class=\"audio-module-tools-toggle\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_open_more_options\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5896544\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9848320\",\"title\":\"At the World Cup, has &amp;#39;VAR&amp;#39; gone too far? Some fans say it&amp;#39;s ruining the tournament\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><\/p>\n<p>            <b class=\"label\">Toggle more options<\/b><br \/>\n        <\/button><\/p>\n<ul class=\"audio-module-more-tools\">\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-download\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2026\/07\/20260714_atc_var_at_the_world_cup_helpful_or_hindrance.mp3?t=progseg&amp;e=nx-s1-5858942&amp;p=2&amp;seg=3&amp;d=253&amp;size=4064279&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_download\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5896544\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9848320\",\"title\":\"At the World Cup, has &amp;#39;VAR&amp;#39; gone too far? Some fans say it&amp;#39;s ruining the tournament\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Download<\/b><\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-embed\">\n                    <button data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/nx-s1-5896544\/nx-s1-9848320\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_embed\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5896544\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9848320\",\"title\":\"At the World Cup, has &amp;#39;VAR&amp;#39; gone too far? Some fans say it&amp;#39;s ruining the tournament\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><b class=\"button-inner\"><b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Embed<\/b><\/b><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"audio-embed-overlay\">\n                        <button class=\"btn-close\" aria-label=\"Close\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button><br \/>\n                        <label class=\"embed-label\"><\/p>\n<p>                            <b class=\"label\">Embed<\/b><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/label><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"embed-url embed-url-touch\"><br \/>\n                            <code><b class=\"punctuation\">&lt;<\/b>iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/nx-s1-5896544\/nx-s1-9848320\" width=\"100%\" height=\"290\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"NPR embedded audio player\"&gt;<\/code><br \/>\n                        <\/b>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-transcript\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/transcripts\/nx-s1-5896544\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_click_transcript\",\"storyId\":\"nx-s1-5896544\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-9848320\",\"title\":\"At the World Cup, has &amp;#39;VAR&amp;#39; gone too far? Some fans say it&amp;#39;s ruining the tournament\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><\/p>\n<p>                    <b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Transcript<\/b><br \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"storytext\" class=\"storytext storylocation linkLocation\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134109\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 6000;--source-height: 4000\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F34%2F479ae1054ecda86ef7881615bf8a%2Fgettyimages-2284343855.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F34%2F479ae1054ecda86ef7881615bf8a%2Fgettyimages-2284343855.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Players react to FIFA referee Said Martinez as a penalty kick is awarded to Belgium after the VAR review during the World Cup round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle on July 1.\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Players react to FIFA referee Said Martinez as a penalty kick is awarded to Belgium after the VAR review during the World Cup round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal in Seattle on July 1.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Alex Grimm\/Getty Images<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Alex Grimm\/Getty Images<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It seems to have become part of the World Cup viewing experience: you&#8217;re watching the game. Your team makes a goal. You celebrate, tentatively: because before you know it, VAR, the <a href=\"https:\/\/inside.fifa.com\/innovation\/standards\/video-assistant-referee\" target=\"_blank\">video assistant referee<\/a>, is checking, and there&#8217;s a chance the goal is getting annulled. <\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5896544-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5893895\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/15\/nx-s1-5893895\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-england-semifinal\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/15\/nx-s1-5893895\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-england-semifinal\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2219x2219+463+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa3%2F9e%2F8c31a1bf41168975fdcf0e2d0348%2Fgettyimages-2286274156.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2219x2219+463+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa3%2F9e%2F8c31a1bf41168975fdcf0e2d0348%2Fgettyimages-2286274156.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2219x2219+463+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa3%2F9e%2F8c31a1bf41168975fdcf0e2d0348%2Fgettyimages-2286274156.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates the team's second goal by Lautaro Mart\u00ednez during their World Cup semifinal against England on Wednesday in Atlanta. Argentina defeated the English 2-1 to advance to Sunday's final against Spain.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/soccer-edition\">Soccer Edition <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/15\/nx-s1-5893895\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-england-semifinal\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/15\/nx-s1-5893895\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-england-semifinal\"}'>Argentina is back in the World Cup final after a thrilling semifinal win over England<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5896544-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>The ubiquitous use of VAR has been one of thegreat controversies at this year&#8217;s World Cup. FIFA argues it&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IeuHJavCt0U&amp;t\" target=\"_blank\">making the game fairer<\/a>; many fans and teams say it&#8217;s getting out of hand.<\/p>\n<p>The VAR was not always the villain of soccer. <\/p>\n<p>In fact, there was a time when fans and players clamored for it. It all goes back to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/story\/_\/id\/37451015\/euro-2016-remembering-thierry-henry-2009-handball-ireland-versus-france\" target=\"_blank\">2009 World Cup qualifiers<\/a>, to a match between France and Ireland. Thierry Henry, a forward for France, assisted on a goal. To many, on the field and watching on TV at home, it was obvious that Henry had touched the ball with his hand. But the referee never called a foul.<\/p>\n<p>This was hardly the first time that it happened: f\u00fatbol lovers will point to the infamous Argentina-England game in the 1986 World Cup, featuring a <em>hand goal<\/em> by Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona (commonly referred to as &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/11\/15\/1136820407\/maradona-hand-of-god-ball-auction-world-cup\" target=\"_blank\">The Hand of God<\/a>&#8220;). The difference was that by 2009, the technology was available to review the play right then and there, and make a better decision.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA, soccer&#8217;s ruling body, is incredibly reluctant to change its rules. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fifa.com\/en\/tournaments\/mens\/worldcup\/articles\/substitutions-substitutes-rule-changes-history\" target=\"_blank\">Up until 1970<\/a>, teams weren&#8217;t allowed to make substitutions. That was the same year in which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7373133\/2026\/06\/21\/red-yellow-cards-explained-world-cup\/\" target=\"_blank\">red and yellow cards were introduced<\/a> (previously, a referee would simply issue a warning or send a player off for bad behavior).<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134111\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 2602;--source-height: 1735\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2602x1735+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa7%2Fc7%2F86bf150f4ccbba864109d3e7c763%2Fap26192841415929.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2602x1735+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa7%2Fc7%2F86bf150f4ccbba864109d3e7c763%2Fap26192841415929.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"FIFA Referee Clement Turpin watches a VAR replay screen to check for a possible penalty during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Norway and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2026.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                FIFA referee Clement Turpin watches a VAR replay screen to check for a possible penalty during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Norway and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 11.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Chris Carlson\/AP<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Chris Carlson\/AP<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>When FIFA does intend to make a change, it often first tests it out in the U.S. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A lot of innovations in soccer, just even <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FIFAWorldCup\/status\/953597773760180224?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">putting names on the back of jerseys<\/a> started in the United States,&#8221; says Professor Chris Davis at Adelphi University. Davis, who studies soccer history, says American fans are typically not so caught up in soccer traditionalism and are more rapid adopters of technological change. This is how VAR came to be testedin 2014 and 2015 during Major League Soccer games.<\/p>\n<p>It was officially introduced at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2018\/07\/13\/628118868\/has-video-refereeing-ruined-the-world-cup\" target=\"_blank\">2018 World Cup<\/a>. Here&#8217;s how it works: there&#8217;s a referee crew on the field, and a separate crew watching the game on video with replays showing many angles. For the most part, Davis says, fans liked it when it was introduced. &#8220;Clear instances were being corrected, and I think that was the beauty of it: we had clear instances of protecting the integrity of the game.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>Davis notes that although audiences appreciated the new technology, it wasn&#8217;t used very often. Fast forward to 2026, and referees checking VAR has become ubiquitous \u2014 from reviewing potential missed fouls in the penalty area to offside.<\/p>\n<p>The offside rule is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7198214\/2026\/07\/01\/offide-rule-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\">over 150 years old, has 45 clauses<\/a> and is around a thousand words long. It&#8217;s one of soccer&#8217;s most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theifab.com\/laws\/latest\/offside\/\" target=\"_blank\">complex and misunderstood laws<\/a>. It&#8217;s hard to explain succinctly, but here is a shot: the law states that a player is offside when in the opponent&#8217;s half of the field, and closer to the opponent&#8217;s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. It matters where the player is when the ball is struck, and whether they&#8217;re involved in active play. It&#8217;s designed to prevent lingering around the opponent&#8217;s goal to make an easy score.<\/p>\n<p>In this World Cup, referees have often stopped the match on multiple occasions to check VAR for offside, sometimes issuing rulings that fans and teams consider ludicrous. <\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134112\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3489;--source-height: 2326\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3489x2326+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F55%2F98%2F8602788c45bc88389fd47574780f%2Fgettyimages-2282655635.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3489x2326+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F55%2F98%2F8602788c45bc88389fd47574780f%2Fgettyimages-2282655635.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Ehsan Hajisafi #3 of Iran protests to Referee Dario Herrera after a VAR review disallowed an Iranian goal during a World Cup match against Belgium on June 21, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Ehsan Hajisafi #3 of Iran protests to referee Dario Herrera after a VAR review disallowed an Iranian goal during a World Cup match against Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood, Calif.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Stu Forster\/Getty Images<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Stu Forster\/Getty Images<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Consider the Iran match against Belgium, in which an Iranian goal was taken away because VAR determined an Iranian player&#8217;s buttwas offside. A few days later, a Colombian goal was annulled when an attacker&#8217;s toe was offside. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is completely interrupting what the game state is&#8221;, says Felipe Cardenas, senior writer with The Athletic. &#8220;One of the best and most special moments in a football match is a goal and the goal celebration. Now there are times when the players have to wait until the referee gets the right decision and he hears from the VAR.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>VAR is at the center of one of the most controversial games in this Cup: Egypt vs. Argentina.<\/p>\n<p>A recap: for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/07\/nx-s1-5884872\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-egypt-round-of-16\" target=\"_blank\">most of the game<\/a>, Egypt dominated. They scored a second goal in the 67th minute. The VAR pointed to a questionable foul that had happened in the lead-up to that goal, all the way across the field. The referee reviewed the video, and disqualified Egypt&#8217;s goal. Argentina went on to win. Later, Egypt complained and said they were robbed during the World Cup. The whole incident led to further questioning of so much technology in the tournament, and whether it&#8217;s being deployed properly.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the day, the debate over the use of VAR and technology in soccer echoes many conversations happening in society today: where is the line between tech helping and going too far? If the technology is being handled by humans, is there not an inherent bias?<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5896544-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5884732\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/16\/nx-s1-5884732\/world-cup-asian-football-confederation-korea-japan\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/16\/nx-s1-5884732\/world-cup-asian-football-confederation-korea-japan\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2765x2765+625+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2Fe9%2F0e395b8b4c0a8f128ab5e65d2931%2Fgettyimages-2283208525-1.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2765x2765+625+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2Fe9%2F0e395b8b4c0a8f128ab5e65d2931%2Fgettyimages-2283208525-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2765x2765+625+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2Fe9%2F0e395b8b4c0a8f128ab5e65d2931%2Fgettyimages-2283208525-1.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Seol Young-woo (#22) of South Korea reacts after his team's 0-1 loss to South Africa at the 2026 World Cup on June 2 in Guadalupe, Mexico.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/soccer-edition\">Soccer Edition <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/16\/nx-s1-5884732\/world-cup-asian-football-confederation-korea-japan\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/16\/nx-s1-5884732\/world-cup-asian-football-confederation-korea-japan\"}'>No Asian team managed to go far this World Cup (again). What&#8217;s holding them back?<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5896544-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Cardenas says he thinks the answer lies somewhere in the middle. &#8220;As f\u00fatbol fans, you should live with human error at times. It&#8217;s OK for a referee to make a mistake. We&#8217;re getting to the point where it is taboo if a referee makes a mistake.<strong>&#8220;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In other words, sometimes you just have to accept the referee&#8217;s decision. No ands, butts\u2026 or toes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/245994525\/fifa-world-cup\">FIFA World Cup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/132056081\/fifa\">FIFA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/127559710\/world-cup\">World Cup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/443216623\/referee\">referee<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"TAGS\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"share-tools share-tools--secondary\" aria-label=\"Share tools\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook\"><button class=\"fbStorynx-s1-5896544\" data-share-facebook='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5896544\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"facebook\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Facebook<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard\"><button class=\"storynx-s1-5896544\" data-share-flipboard='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5896544\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"flipboard\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Flipboard<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--email\"><button class=\"share-tools__email-link\" data-story-id=\"nx-s1-5896544\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"email\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Email<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS-SECONDARY\" ARIA-LABEL=\"SHARE TOOLS\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"NEWSLETTER-ACQUISITION-CALLOUT-DATA\" DATA-NEWSLETTER=\"{&amp;QUOT;NEWSLETTERID&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;NEWS&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;TITLE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;UP FIRST&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;MARKETINGHEADER&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;FREQUENCY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;EVERY DAY&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;SHORTDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;THE STORIES YOU NEED TO START YOUR DAY, HAND-PICKED FOR YOU EVERY WEEKDAY. PLUS, THE BEST OF NPR EVERY SUNDAY.&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;STICKYDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR THE NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST HEADLINES AND UNIQUE STORIES FROM THE NPR NETWORK.&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;CONTENTIMAGE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;HTTPS:\/\/NPR.BRIGHTSPOTCDN.COM\/E1\/16\/E7434747460F8691603795B6FF1C\/SCREEN-SHOT-2025-08-20-AT-1-47-26-PM.PNG&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;STATICMARKUPDIR&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;\/BUCKETS\/TOPICS\/HEADER1001.HTML&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;BRANDINGDIR&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;\/BRANDING\/SECTIONS\/NEWS\/&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;BRANDINGLINK&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;HTTPS:\/\/WWW.NPR.ORG\/SECTIONS\/NEWS\/&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;RECAPTCHASITEKEY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;6LCDN9IZAAAAAOHT985BJJBZJKBJKSXDXK3GEKST&amp;QUOT;}\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap\" class=\"callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap\">\n<!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP\" CLASS=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"RECOMMENDED-STORIES RECOMMENDED-STORIES-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT\" CLASS=\"RECOMMENDED-STORIES\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the World Cup, has &#8216;VAR&#8217; gone too far? Some fans say it&#8217;s ruining the tournament July 17,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":5267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}