Has VAR Changed Football?
Rohan Vishwanath
library(tidyverse)
library(worldfootballR)
# Get team-level stats for EPL 2015–2024
epl_results <- fb_season_team_stats(
country = "ENG",
gender = "M",
season_end_year = 2015:2024,
tier = "1st",
stat_type = "misc"
)Toggle View: Penalties vs Red Cards (Line Chart)
## Warning: Using `size` aesthetic for lines was deprecated in ggplot2 3.4.0.
## ℹ Please use `linewidth` instead.
## This warning is displayed once every 8 hours.
## Call `lifecycle::last_lifecycle_warnings()` to see where this warning was
## generated.
Penalties Awarded: Pre vs Post VAR
Red Cards: Pre vs Post VAR
Key Observations
Limitations & Ethical Reflections
- Data Gaps: Not every decision that VAR impacts is clearly recorded. There isn’t a specific marker in the dataset for decisions made with VAR.
- Attribution Bias: Outcomes such as penalties or red cards can be influenced by a variety of factors—blaming them entirely on VAR really simplifies a much more complex reality.
- Ethics of Automation: VAR is all about fairness, but it’s also stirring up some new debates, like those marginal offsides and the wait for celebrations.
- Transparency & Trust: Fans often feel left in the dark when it comes to VAR reviews, which can undermine their trust in the decisions made by officials.
These limitations guide us to be cautious in interpreting results.
Conclusion & References
🎯 Conclusion
- VAR has clearly influenced match outcomes,
especially through:
- An increase in penalties awarded
- A decrease in red cards issued
- However, win/draw/loss patterns remain relatively stable.
- VAR promotes fairness, but its effects are more subtle than revolutionary.
📚 References
- FBref. (2024). English Premier League stats (2015–2024). Retrieved from https://fbref.com/en/
- Premier League. (2024). VAR: How it works. Retrieved from https://www.premierleague.com/VAR