THE IMPACT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE VAR TECHNOLOGY ON THE SPECTATORS AND MEDIA COVERAGE OF FOOTBALL

Krešimir Lacković; Fran Franjković

doi:10.58984/smbic2301115l

Authors

Krešimir Lacković Department of Communicology, Media and Journalism, University Centre Koprivnica, Koprivnica, Croatia Author
Fran Franjković Department of Communicology, Media and Journalism, University Centre Koprivnica, Koprivnica, Croatia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58984/smbic2301115l

Keywords:

VAR, refereeing decisions, football, controversies, media

Abstract

The paper deals with the introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) as a technical aid for the purpose of minimizing refereeing mistakes and errors. The research in the paper includes the definition of VAR and the observations of various experts, scientists and survey participants. The goal of the research is to determine the influence of VAR on the audience, media and quality of the media coverage of football. The paper provides five hypotheses. The first one implies that VAR makes journalists and media more critical of refereeing mistakes. The second one entails that the introduction of the VAR technology has increased the trust in referees. The third hypothesis suggests that VAR has a negative effect on football as a game as well as on the emotions of spectators and fans. The fourth one relies on the fact that the application of VAR is still in the development stage and the last one presupposes that football is still more prone, despite the application of VAR, to discussions about refereeing decisions than other sports. In order to support the above hypotheses, a survey was conducted. The content analysis is based on the quantitative method, though some elements of the qualitative method have also been used. The discussion has generated the elements which confirm the set hypotheses. The concluding considerations indicate the need to proceed with the use and development of IT technology in sports as well as with related research.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Carboch, J., Vejvodova, K., & Suss, V. (2016). Analysis of errors made by line umpires on ATP tournaments. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 16(1), 264–275. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2016.11868885 (downloaded 28.08.2022)

Caruso, E. M., Burns, Z. C., & Converse, B. A. (2016). Slow motion increases perceived intent. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 113(33), 9250–9255. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1603865113 (downloaded 28.08.2022)

Gilis, B., Weston, M., Helsen, W. F., Junge, A., & Dvorak, J. (2006). Interpretation and application of the laws of the game in football incidents leading to player injuries. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 37(2/3), 121.

Kolbinger, O., & Lames, M. (2017). Scientific approaches to technological officiating aids in game sports. Current Issues in Sport Science, 2(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/ 10.15203/CISS_2017.001 (downloaded 28.08.2022)

Lago-Peñas, C., Dellal, A., Owen, A. L., & Gómez-Ruano, M. A. (2015). The influence of the extra-time period on physical performance in elite soccer. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 15(3), 830–839. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 24748668.2015.11868834 (downloaded 28.08.2022)

Leveaux, R. (2010). Facilitating referee’s decision making in sport via the application of technology. Communications of the IBIMA, 2010(2010), 1–8. https://doi.org/ 10.5171/2010.545333 (downloaded 28.08.2022)

Mascarenhas, D. R., Collins, D., & Mortimer, P. (2005). Elite refereeing performance: Developing a model for sport science support. The Sport Psychologist, 19(4), 364–379. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.19.4.364 (downloaded 28.08.2022)

Myint, H., Wong, P., Dooley, L., & Hopgood, A. (2015, May). Tracking a table tennis ball for umpiring purposes [Paper presentation]. 14th IAPR international conference on machine

Nevill, A. M., Balmer, N. J., & Williams, A. M. (2002). The influence of crowd noise and experience upon refereeing decisions in football. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 3 (4), 261–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1469-0292(01)00033-4 (downloaded 28.08.2022)

Plessner, H., & Haar, T. (2006). Sports performance judgments from a social cognitive perspective. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 7(6), 555–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2006.03.007 (downloaded 28.08.2022)

Rampinini, E., Impellizzeri, F. M., Castagna, C., Coutts, A. J., & Wisløff, U. (2009). Technical performance during soccer matches of the Italian Serie A league: effect of fatigue and competitive level. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 12 (1), 227–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2007.10.002 (downloaded 28.08.2022)

International Football Association Bord (2019) Münstergasse 9 (IFAB), 8001 Zurich, Switzerland This booklet may not be reproduced or translated in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of The International Football Association Bord 2019, str 135. www.theifab.com (downloaded 28.08.2022).