VAR in V-League: When Technology is Right but Trust is Misplaced

Saturday night, Lach Tray Stadium. Minute 78, the ball struck the home defender's arm inside the box. The stands roared, away players surrounded the referee. I sat in the VAR room, watching the screen, waiting. This is the moment I have lived with for 25 years — the moment where all eyes turn to me, even though no one knows I am there.

When the signal came, the referee ran to review. I had watched three angles, slowed down every frame. The ball hit the arm that was tucked close to the body — not a foul. The decision stood. The stands booed, but I knew I was right. There are offside calls no one sees, but the camera never blinks.

The problem is not technology. The problem is how we trust technology.

Context: VAR arrived in Vietnam, but trust has not caught up

VAR was officially applied in V-League from the 2026-2026 season, after years of trials in cup competitions. According to VPF data, in the first season, VAR was used in 112 matches, intervening in 47 situations, of which 23 changed the referee's original decision. This is an intervention rate of about 0.42 times per match — lower than the Asian average (about 0.6 times per match according to AFC statistics in 2026).

But what is notable is not the number of interventions, but how fans and players react to them. In an unofficial survey I conducted on my personal blog at the end of the 2026 season, with 1,200 Vietnamese football fans participating, 68% said "VAR ruins the excitement of the match" and 54% believed "referees can still be wrong even with VAR".

This distrust is not entirely unfounded. In the 2026-2026 season, there were at least 5 major controversial incidents involving VAR, most notably in Round 18 between Hanoi FC and Hanoi Police FC, when VAR failed to detect an offside by the away striker before scoring — a rare but costly error.

Core Analysis: Why is VAR 'right' but still doubted?

Based on my experience following matches, both in V-League and international tournaments, I see three core reasons for this loss of trust.

First, the gap between expectation and reality. Fans often think VAR is an "all-seeing eye" that can see everything. In reality, VAR only intervenes in four categories: goals, penalties, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. Moreover, even with VAR, there are "grey" situations — where the laws do not clearly specify and the final decision depends on the referee's subjective judgment. I have witnessed at least 3 V-League matches this season where VAR reviewed but could not reach a definitive conclusion, forcing the referee to maintain the original decision and face a wave of criticism.

Second, lack of transparency in the process. In top European leagues, fans see the entire VAR review process on the big screen and hear the referee's explanation. In V-League, fans only see the referee run to review, then make a decision without any explanation. This information vacuum creates fertile ground for rumors and suspicion. A millimeter changes the fate of a team; I have learned to live with that. But fans have not.

Third, the human factor. VAR is not an automatic machine. Behind it are humans — me and my colleagues — with visual limits, psychological pressure, and judgment capabilities. I once missed a handball at the 2026 World Cup, and I know what that feels like. The referee is the only person on the pitch who is not allowed to choose a side — and I stand behind them. But that does not mean we are never wrong.

Contrarian: Emotion vs. Law

This is what I want everyone to understand: the anger of fans often comes from comparing the situation with their personal "sense of justice", while referees must follow the laws mechanically. Take the handball example at the beginning. For fans, the defender's arm touched the ball — it is a penalty. For the law, if the arm is in a natural position, close to the body, and the ball hits it — it is not a foul. Both are "right" in their own frame of reference. But the law must be the only thing applied.

The biggest mistake is not holding the whistle, but not daring to own your whistle. I have seen many young referees in V-League booed by fans to the point of losing confidence, leading to wrong decisions in the final minutes — not because they do not know the law, but because they fear judgment. When everyone blames a 19-year-old player, the person in the VAR room must stand up. But when everyone blames the referee, who stands up to protect them?

Way Forward: What needs to be done to restore trust?

From the perspective of someone who has worked as VAR for 8 years, I believe V-League needs three specific changes.

One, make the process public. Broadcast the entire conversation between the referee and the VAR team, as the Premier League has done since the 2026-2026 season. When fans see why a decision is made, they may not agree but they will understand. Understanding is the first step of acceptance.

Two, retrain communication skills. Vietnamese referees need to learn how to explain decisions briefly, clearly, without being defensive. I once witnessed a First Division referee explain a VAR decision with a hesitant voice, making both teams angry. Communication is not just a skill; it is part of refereeing.

Three, accept mistakes transparently. When VAR is wrong, admit it publicly and explain why. I wrote a blog post about my own mistake at the 2026 World Cup, and received more respect than criticism. Referees are also human. But humans who admit mistakes are forgiven; humans who hide mistakes are hated.

Open Conclusion

I still remember the 2026 AFC Cup match, when I detected an offside of 0.3 meters that no one on the pitch saw. No one praised me, no one knew what I had done. But the match ended with the correct score — and that was all I needed. Perhaps trust does not come from people understanding the technology fully, but from seeing consistency and honesty in how technology is used. Then, even with controversy, they will still believe the match is being protected. And I, along with those sitting in the dark room with bright screens, will continue our work — quietly, meticulously, and never blinking.