VAR considered dropped in Norwegian Eliteserien as Sweden never tried but do fans have the full and total picture
01/25/2025 10:09 AM
Norway is set to become the first country to abandon VAR after 19 of its 32 clubs voted Wednesday to scrap video refereeing in the country’s top division.
Following a four-month consultation period involving clubs, players and supporters’ groups, clubs from Norway’s first and second tier voted on whether to scrap VAR, and the outcome of the vote led to a recommendation that the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) rubber-stamp the result.
The NFF is expected to make a final decision in March, although sources told ESPN that the governing body could yet overrule the vote.
The Swedish football president, Fredrik Reinfeldt said last year that he wanted to introduce VAR in Swedish football. Now he has turned around after a majority of the elite series clubs have decided that they are against the introduction.
One of the arguments used was that the Swedish referees were going to sail backwards, because most other countries in Europe are going in the direction of VAR, or have introduced it earlier.
Norway is set to become the first country to abandon VAR after 19 of its 32 clubs voted to scrap video refereeing in the country's top division.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 23, 2025
Earlier this season, Rosenborg vs. Lillestrøm was abandoned because fans threw fish cakes and other items onto the pitch in protest.… pic.twitter.com/m0eRZQ255l
A battle is brewing again between the grassroots in Norwegian football and the tops in the Norwegian Football Association (NFF), Norwegian top football (NTF) and rights holder TV2. This time about video refereeing (VAR).
VAR is of course debateable, but in the long run, FIFA rules and regulations will be something to apply to. Norway and Sweden could of course live without the VAR concept, but in real needs to have it in place for games in Europe and for the national team as this is an absolute in these type of games.
Will be interesting to see if NFF trash their idea and desire to have this system removed and in that way also reducing possibly the chance for Norwegian referees to be part of the play out in European club competitions, somehting that of course will harm the recruitment and developement of Norwegian referee’s who have under harsh critisism.
We will soon learn the outcome of this decision making, and if NFF will stop this already in the season coming up as they start playing in April.
CHECK YOUR FOOTBALL RESULTS
WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
