Exploring the socio-technical dynamics of VAR implementation and use

VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is one of the most significant and controversial developments in world football. At its core, VAR is a decision-support system that aids referees to make more accurate decisions and eliminate clear and obvious errors. While current research highlights an increased level of accuracy, there have also been highly publicised errors, with fans having a mixed response. In an effort to gain a holistic understanding of VAR, this study undertakes a grounded theory approach to capture the socio-technical dynamics that have dominated the VAR implementation and use. The study focuses on the English Premier League (EPL) and examines over 2 years of news articles on VAR. Using open coding, 14 categories emerge, providing a comprehensive picture of the socio-technical dynamics. These categories are organised into ‘Socio-Technical Context of the VAR Implementation’ and ‘Socio-Technical Impact of the VAR Implementation’. The paper concludes by stating several propositions that can be explored further.