Three quarters of football fans are opposed to the use of Video Assistant Referee technology in the Premier League, according to a new survey carried out by the Football Supporters' Association.
The poll highlights deep-rooted frustration among supporters, who widely believe that VAR has had a negative impact on the game rather than improving it since its introduction to English top-flight football.
A key grievance among fans centres on the effect VAR has had on goal celebrations. Supporters have expressed that the prolonged review process has stripped away much of the spontaneous joy that comes with seeing their team score, leaving stadiums in an atmosphere of uncertainty rather than elation.
The Football Supporters' Association, which represents fans across the country, has long championed supporter voices on issues affecting the game. The release of this survey data adds significant weight to growing calls for a fundamental rethink of how VAR is used, or whether it should continue at all.
VAR was introduced to the Premier League at the start of the 2019-20 season with the aim of reducing clear and obvious errors in key match decisions, including goals, penalties, red cards and cases of mistaken identity. However, the technology has remained a source of ongoing controversy throughout its existence in English football.
Critics have pointed to a number of high-profile contentious decisions over the years as evidence that the technology has failed to deliver on its original promise. Debates over marginal offside calls and lengthy review delays have consistently dominated post-match discussions.
The findings will place further pressure on the Premier League and the Football Association to address fan concerns. While some European leagues have also grappled with similar criticisms of VAR, the debate in England has been particularly vocal.
Whether the survey results will prompt any formal review of VAR protocols or its continued use in the Premier League remains to be seen, but it is clear that the majority of supporters are running out of patience with the technology.
