What is it really like to be a referee in the VAR era?

In this episode of The Beautiful Game: Ruined or Revolutionized by Technology?, we step into the shoes of the officials making the biggest calls under the most pressure.

Host Abdullah is joined once again by returning guest Imdad to explore:
⚽ How referees operated before VAR existed
🎥 The promise VAR made to protect referees—and how it sometimes backfires
🔎 The rising pressure to be “perfect” with technology involved
📢 And the surprising new trend: referees announcing VAR decisions to the stadium, as seen recently when Lionel Messi’s goal for Inter Miami was disallowed in the Concacaf Champions Cup—and explained live over the speakers

We also revisit past matches, including:

• France vs. Croatia (2018 World Cup Final)

• South Korea vs. Italy (2002 World Cup)

• Liverpool vs. Tottenham (2023 Premier League)

This episode builds directly from Episode 2’s fan perspective—connecting the dots between transparency, trust, and the human side of officiating.

📣 Next episode, we’ll dive into how players and coaches are responding to the VAR era on and off the pitch.

Subscribe and stay with us as we continue to explore how technology is reshaping the beautiful game.

Credits:

Background & Intro Music:

• Background Music for Podcast Intro and Outro by – Licensed under Royalty-Free License.

• Source: YouTube

Images Used for Cover Art & Promotions:

• Background Image for Podcast by – Licensed under Royalty-Free License.