Collina defends VAR amid World Cup controversy at FIFA

Collina's unequivocal defence of the Video Assistant Referee system signals that FIFA will continue to rely on technology to settle disputes, even as fans and pundits cling to lingering doubts. His comments reinforce the governing body's commitment to fairness and suggest that criticism will not alter the current trajectory.

On the day, at 11:48, Pierluigi Collina spoke about the VAR's role after the many discussions that unfolded during the World Cup (WK). He addressed the issue in an interview with La dello Sport, offering a detailed perspective on the technology's impact.

Collina, the head of referees at FIFA, said he is convinced that technology makes football fairer and that he does not always understand the criticism. "Technology makes the game more honest," he explained, adding that the backlash often overlooks the benefits.

According to Collina (Volgens Collina), the introduction of VAR was a logical step. He illustrated his point with a stadium analogy: "In a stadium tens of thousands of spectators can review a situation, but the referee cannot. You either ban all technology or give officials the same tools."

De, the FIFA referee chief, highlighted that the organisation is investing millions in technological tools, yet he hopes that such investment will eventually become unnecessary. "If referees do their job perfectly, we will need less technology," he said.

Collina also addressed the much‑talked‑about quarter‑final between England and Norway, where many believed an equaliser was altered by a camera cable. He called the belief "incredible" and noted that the data showed no contact, only a slight movement through the air, proving that modern technology can assess such incidents objectively.

Turning to the disallowed goal of Croatia against Portugal, Collina explained that a sensor inside the match ball pinpointed the exact moment of contact, allowing VAR to intervene for off‑side. "The graph was crystal clear," he asserted, emphasizing how the tool eliminates doubt.

When confronted with the claim that VAR removes emotion from football, Collina disagreed. He observed that players still celebrate immediately after scoring, and a second celebration follows a confirmed decision. "It is fairer that emotions are based on a correct call rather than on debates that linger for years," he concluded.

Looking ahead, Collina hopes that continued investment will refine the technology to a point where referees can rely on their own judgments, reducing the need for VAR interventions. He believes that when officials perform flawlessly, the sport will retain its passion while benefiting from objective oversight.