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.

Is VAR bringing clarity to football—or confusion to fans?

In this second episode of The Beautiful Game: Ruined or Revolutionized by Technology?, host Abdullah is joined by passionate football fan Imdad Haque to explore how VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is reshaping the fan experience.

From moments of pure joy being paused, to memes that break the internet, we dive into how VAR has transformed the way fans celebrate, engage, and react to every big decision.

We break down:⚽ The emotional impact of disallowed goals (e.g. Arsenal vs. Manchester United 2022)🎟️ The awkward silence of in-stadium VAR delays (Barcelona vs. Inter 2023)📱 Social media explosions (Tottenham vs. Man City 2019)🛠️ And ideas for how to reconnect fans to the passion of the game.

🎧 Stay until the end as we tease next week’s episode, where we explore how referees are coping with the pressure of VAR—from authority to anxiety.

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.

"VAR—Video Assistant Referee—was introduced to make football fairer. But has it actually improved the game, or is it ruining the excitement of watching and playing football?

In this episode, we break down:
⚽ What VAR is and how it works.
⚽ The biggest referee mistakes in football history—like Maradona’s Hand of God and Lampard’s ghost goal—that led to the introduction of VAR.
⚽ The pros and cons of VAR—why some fans love it, while others think it’s destroying the game.
⚽ The latest Champions League controversy—where even UEFA admitted VAR made a mistake in the Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid match.
⚽ And finally, can VAR be fixed, or should it be scrapped altogether?

🔔 Subscribe now so you don’t miss future episodes! Next time, I’ll be joined by a guest to debate whether VAR is helping or hurting football fans.

💬 Join the conversation! Follow me on social media and share your thoughts on VAR. Does it make the game fairer, or is it killing the passion of football?

🎵 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

Sources for VAR History & Rules:

• FIFA & IFAB Laws of the Game (www.fifa.com/laws)
• UEFA Official Website (www.uefa.com)
• News reports covering the Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid controversy

• In this exclusive trailer episode of The Beautiful Game: Ruined or Revolutionized by Technology, the host introduces the central debate: Is VAR enhancing fairness in football, or is it stripping away the sport’s natural spontaneity and emotion? Get a sneak peek at the themes and discussions to come as we explore the controversial impact of technology on the beautiful game. Subscribe now and join the conversation!