VAR: Hit or miss? Fans’ poll on football’s most controversial debate

“I’d rather play without it.” “Ruining the game.” “I don’t know the rules any more.”

The video assistant referee (VAR) was brought in to improve football. But Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish and Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne have all spoken out about controversial decisions made by VAR recently.

And it seems football fans are also less than convinced by VAR in its second full season in use in English football.

In a poll for BBC Sport, only a third of football fans across the UK said they believe VAR has made football better.

The poll of 2,100 fans, carried out by Savanta ComRes, shows that while 30% of fans think it has improved the game, 44% of fans actually think it has made football worse.

While most fans are now given the option of seeing VAR decisions on screen – whether in the stadium or watching on TV – almost half of fans said they believe the introduction of VAR has made football less exciting.

The poll also shows: