VAR and Controversial Decisions: When Technology Becomes the Third Referee

Minute 74, My Dinh National Stadium. The score is 1-1 in the match between Vietnam and Thailand in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Striker Nguyen Tien Linh falls in the penalty area after a collision with a Thai defender. The main referee points to the penalty spot. But then, he raises his hand to his ear, listening to the voice from the VAR room. The stadium holds its breath. After nearly two minutes of review, the referee changes his decision: no penalty. The entire My Dinh Stadium erupts in protest. Vietnamese fans jeer, Vietnamese players surround the referee in fierce protest. But the decision has been made, and nothing can change it now.

This is not the first time VAR has angered Vietnamese fans. Since VAR was introduced to the V-League in the 2026 season, there have been numerous controversies about decisions made by this technology. Many believe VAR is ruining the game, disrupting the rhythm, and stealing the joy of victory from the home team. But are we looking at the problem the right way?

Let's look back at the history of VAR implementation in Vietnam. When VAR was first introduced at the 2026 World Cup, I closely followed how international referees used this technology. I remember the match between France and Australia in the group stage, when VAR was used for the first time to change a decision in a World Cup match. The referee took nearly three minutes to review the situation and make the final call. At that time, I asked myself: is Vietnamese football ready for this technology?

The answer, as we have seen, is not entirely. But the problem is not the technology itself, but how we understand and apply it.

What is VAR and how does it work?

VAR, or Video Assistant Referee, is a video assistant referee system. This system allows the main referee to review controversial situations on a screen to make more accurate decisions. According to international football laws, VAR is only used in four situations: goals, penalties, direct red cards, and mistaken identity.

In the V-League, VAR has been applied since the 2026 season, much later than major European leagues. The Premier League implemented VAR in the 2026-2026 season, La Liga in 2026-2026, and the Bundesliga in 2026-2026. This late implementation could be an advantage, as we can learn from the mistakes of preceding leagues. But in reality, we are still making similar mistakes.

Analysis of controversial situations in V-League 2026-2026

Let's analyze three of the most controversial VAR situations in the V-League 2026-2026 season, based on data I collected from watching matches live and reviewing video recordings.

Situation 1: Disallowed goal for Hanoi FC (Round 8)

In the match between Hanoi FC and CAHN FC in Round 8, Hanoi FC striker Rafaelson scored a goal in the 65th minute. However, after consulting VAR, the referee disallowed the goal for offside. Television replays showed Rafaelson appeared to be level with the last CAHN defender, but VAR determined he was offside by about 15 centimeters. Hanoi FC fans reacted fiercely, claiming VAR had stolen a legitimate goal.

However, when reviewing the slow-motion replays, I noticed VAR operated correctly. The issue is that semi-automated offside technology has not been implemented in the V-League, so offside determination still relies on manually drawn lines on the screen. This can lead to errors of a few centimeters, but in this case, Rafaelson was clearly offside.

Situation 2: Controversial red card for Thanh Hoa FC defender (Round 12)

In Round 12, Thanh Hoa FC defender Gustavo received a straight red card after a dangerous challenge on a Hai Phong FC midfielder. The referee initially showed a yellow card, but after reviewing the situation via VAR, he changed his decision and sent Gustavo off. The tackle was made at high speed, with the leg raised high and direct contact with the upper part of the opponent's body.

According to football laws, this tackle deserved a straight red card. But many believe VAR was too strict. I disagree. In top European leagues, tackles like this always result in red cards. The problem is not VAR, but that Vietnamese referees are not yet accustomed to applying the laws consistently.

Situation 3: Penalty for Nam Dinh FC (Round 16)

In the match between Nam Dinh FC and Binh Duong FC in Round 16, the referee awarded a penalty to Nam Dinh FC after consulting VAR. The situation occurred when a Binh Duong defender handled the ball in the penalty area after a high ball. Many believed this situation did not warrant a penalty because the ball hit the hand naturally while the player was running.

This is a difficult situation. According to the latest IFAB laws, handball is penalized if the arm is in an unnatural position, meaning it extends beyond the "body silhouette." In this case, the Binh Duong defender's arm was raised above shoulder height, so VAR determined it was a foul. I believe this decision was correct, even though it angered many Binh Duong fans.

Impact of VAR on the 2026-2026 V-League standings

After 18 rounds of the 2026-2026 V-League, I have counted that VAR was used 87 times, with 23 instances resulting in changes to the referee's initial decision. This change rate is about 26%, higher than the Premier League (about 18% in the 2026-2026 season). This shows that Vietnamese referees still struggle to make accurate decisions in complex situations.

However, I also noticed a positive trend. The number of VAR interventions is gradually decreasing through the rounds. In the first 5 rounds, there were an average of 1.2 VAR interventions per match. In the last 5 rounds, this number has dropped to 0.8 per match. This indicates that referees are gradually becoming more accustomed to handling situations without needing technological support.

Contrarian view: Are we too dependent on VAR?

Many believe VAR is diminishing the natural nature of football. They say football is a sport that embraces errors, and referee mistakes are an inseparable part of the game. They also point out that VAR disrupts the flow of the match, distracts players, and diminishes the emotions of fans.

I understand these concerns. I have also felt frustrated when waiting minutes for VAR to make a decision. But I believe that in the context of modern football with increasingly high speed, VAR is a necessary tool to ensure fairness.

Look at the match between Vietnam and Thailand at the beginning of this article. Without VAR, we could have had an incorrect penalty, and the match result could have been different. VAR is not the enemy of football; it is a companion to ensure that the team deserving victory will win.

Proposed improvements and future trends

Based on the above analysis, I have three proposals to improve the use of VAR in Vietnam:

First, invest in semi-automated offside technology. This technology was implemented at the 2026 World Cup and has proven effective in reducing offside determination time from an average of 70 seconds to about 20 seconds. Implementing this technology will reduce match interruptions and increase accuracy.

Second, enhance referee training on effective VAR usage. I propose that each referee should participate in at least 20 matches with VAR in youth leagues or lower divisions before being assigned to officiate in the V-League.

Third, make the VAR decision-making process more transparent. I propose that after each match, the organizing committee should publish audio recordings of communications between the main referee and the VAR team, similar to what rugby has done. This will help fans better understand the reasoning behind controversial decisions.

Conclusion

VAR is not a perfect tool. It has limitations and can cause controversies. But I believe that with patience and continuous improvement, VAR will become increasingly refined and an indispensable part of Vietnamese football.

The first mistake is not to be forgotten, but to serve as a benchmark. The controversies this season will be valuable lessons for upcoming seasons. Data remains silent until the right questions are asked. Our question now is not whether VAR is good or bad, but how to use VAR most effectively.

An empty pitch still holds its rules; people only see more clearly when there is no noise. Let VAR do its job, and let football speak for itself. Referees do not create fouls; they only record what the laws already dictate. And VAR, despite all the controversies, is the tool to most accurately record what the laws have stipulated.

Broadcasting rights are like rules—whoever holds the clauses controls reality. Similarly, whoever masters the use of VAR will control justice on the pitch.