OSLO — The decision has been made by Norwegian soccer authorities to continue utilizing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in its premier league. This choice was made following a vote at a congress held by Norway’s national soccer federation on Saturday.
The proposal to retain VAR was overwhelmingly supported, with 321 votes in favor and only 129 against the technology. VAR has become a staple in most major soccer competitions since its formal introduction to the sport in 2018.
Introduced by the Norwegian soccer federation in 2023, the adoption of video review technology stirred some controversy. This was primarily due to its implementation before Norway’s member-run clubs could reach a consensus on its use. Furthermore, initial experiences with VAR led to fan protests, as some of the early decisions were delayed significantly during reviews.
The voting process involved all club members active in the federation, as well as leaders from the federation’s county units and board. Despite the extensive eligibility, the majority of these clubs are not directly impacted by VAR decisions, as the technology is solely applied in the top-tier matches.
Had Norway decided to abandon VAR, it might have provided momentum to critics of the technology in other nations. In a preceding development, Premier League clubs in June reaffirmed their commitment to VAR, choosing to retain the system despite the controversies it sparked last season. Contrastingly, Sweden stands out as one of the few European countries opting not to introduce VAR to its league.
Proponents of VAR argue that the technology minimizes human mistakes, thereby enhancing the fairness of the game.
