Swedish Football Association has made history by becoming the first to reject the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
VAR has sparked controversy in other leagues where it has been introduced, with criticism ranging from long delays in decision-making to controversial offside calls.
The Swedish Football Association has now decided not to introduce VAR after a majority of elite clubs campaigned against it.
In Sweden’s Allsvenskan league, many teams are majority-owned by fans (at least 51%) who have been vocal in their opposition to VAR.
Fans have protested during matches and called for the resignation of the FA president, Fredrik Reinfeldt prompting action from the football governing body.
Former prime minister of Sweden, Fredrik Reinfeldt has acknowledged the concerns raised by fans and clubs regarding the use of VAR.
He mentioned in an interview with Aftonbladet newspaper on Thursday, April 25 that the decision to reject VAR was in response to the strong objections from the football community in Sweden.
The Swedish FA president Fredrik Reinfeldt, said: “If I counted correctly, we have 18 elite clubs and two districts that have said they do not want to introduce VAR. We respect that.”
The 58-year-old previously mentioned that there were talks about UEFA making VAR mandatory, but he now believes it is up to individual leagues to decide.
He added: “That’s why we didn’t bring forward any proposal about VAR to the previous board of representatives meeting and I don’t foresee it in the future either. I stand by respecting the democratic rules of the game.”
It is unlikely that UEFA will pressure the Swedish League to adopt VAR for European competitions.
The Swedish Football Association’s decision to forgo VAR means that the Allsvenskan will be the only league in UEFA’s top 30 divisions without the technology.
Meanwhile, this report has been well-received by fans in Europe, especially in the UK where opposition to VAR is strong. Premier League fans have criticized VAR, leading to calls for similar action in English football.
One fan exclaimed, “Fantastic news! It’s time for England to implement this change.” Another supporter added, “This is a great decision. Hopefully, the Premier League officials will take note.”
Leagues and cups around the world without VAR
Despite being introduced in mid-2000s, VAR has become a common feature in soccer matches. Major leagues such as the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, MLS, Liga MX, Brasileirão, and J-League all utilize video assistant referees.
However, there are still some significant competitors that do not use this technology.
For example, the Carabao Cup, which includes only the top four leagues in the English pyramid, has a strict no-VAR policy until the semifinal stage. This ensures consistency across matches and prevents any teams from being at a disadvantage.
Additionally, the Women’s Super League in England also does not use VAR.
In Africa, only Algeria, Libya, and Morocco have domestic leagues that implement VAR, while the technology is more commonly used in continental cups and international competitions. This shows that VAR is not as prevalent in African football leagues compared to other parts of the world.
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