A significant majority of supporters of Premier League clubs are opposed to the continued use of the video assistant referee (VAR), according to a new survey conducted by the Football Supporters’ Association.
The survey, which gathered responses from nearly 8,000 fans across all 20 top-flight teams, revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the technology’s impact on the game.
Findings showed that about three-quarters of respondents are against VAR, with 90 percent stating it has not improved the matchday experience. An even higher 91 percent said the system has diminished the spontaneity of goal celebrations, long considered one of football’s most cherished elements.
Additionally, 94 percent of those surveyed disagreed that VAR enhances the viewing experience for fans watching matches on television.
Reacting to the results, Thomas Concannon, the Premier League network manager for the Football Supporters’ Association, said the data reflects growing frustration among fans.
He noted that beyond concerns about delays, supporters are also increasingly questioning the accuracy of decisions made using the technology, adding that VAR has altered the emotional rhythm of the game.
“It takes away from what football is meant to be and what those special moments are about,” Concannon said, emphasising that many fans now favour scrapping the system entirely.
In response, the Premier League acknowledged concerns about the impact of VAR on supporters but maintained that feedback from its own internal research suggests fans are not calling for its removal, but rather for improvements in how it is implemented.
