Fact check
AI analysis“VAR has been used for a decade.”
Reasoning
Primary sources confirm VAR approval in 2016 and its debut in professional matches that year, which aligns with a ten‑year span up to 2026. However, a contrasting source notes that broad implementation only started with the 2018 World Cup, suggesting only eight years of widespread use. The claim is therefore largely true for any usage but less accurate for widespread adoption.
On confidence: Evidence shows VAR was approved and first used in 2016, giving roughly ten years of usage by 2026, but widespread adoption began later (2018), creating some ambiguity.
Important context
- IFAB approved VAR for trial in March 2016, with implementation for the 2016/17 season. - First top‑flight match using VAR occurred in September 2016 (Dutch Eredivisie). - VAR featured at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, marking its debut on football’s biggest stage. - Some reports emphasize 2018 as the start of widespread use, not 2016.
Evidence
Supporting (3)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceindependent originIFAB Minutes – 24 March 2016 – Approval of VAR
The International Football Association Board approved the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for trial in professional matches, with implementation scheduled for the 2016/17 season.
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceindependent originFIFA approves VAR implementation
FIFA announced that VAR will be introduced in top‑level competitions from the 2016/17 season.
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originVAR makes debut in Dutch Eredivisie
The match between Ajax and FC Utrecht on 1 September 2016 became the first top‑flight game to use the Video Assistant Referee system.
Contradicting (1)
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originVAR to be used at 2018 World Cup
VAR will be rolled out for the first time at the 2018 World Cup, meaning its widespread use began only eight years ago.
Contextual (1)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceindependent originVAR at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
The 2018 World Cup was the first FIFA World Cup to use VAR, marking its debut on football's biggest stage.
Limitations
Evidence does not cover every league worldwide; some competitions adopted VAR later than 2016, so the claim may not hold universally. The term “used” is not precisely defined (trial vs. full implementation).
- Last verified:
- Sep 26, 2026, 3:32 PM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 0.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
VAR's mission creep a problem for footballDeutsche Welle