Football stakeholders' views on "Video Assistant Referee" technology: A qualitative research

The aim of this study is to contribute to the development of the current technology with the result of the findings of football stakeholders regarding the Video Assistant Referee Technology used in the football game. The study consists of four parts: literature review, research method, findings and discussion, conclusion, and recommendations. Qualitative research methods were used in this study. In this context, interviews were held with 18 male participants, consisting of referee board members, referees, observers, club managers, footballers, coaches, press members, and fans which are named football stakeholders. Interviews consisted of two parts, a personal information form, and 5 questions prepared about the subject of the research, for the participants and it was conducted within the framework of a semi-structured interview form. The data were transformed into text and divided into themes by being resolved by the researcher through content analysis. As a result of the research, when the opinions of the participants on the use of technology in football were examined, it was seen that the participants stated that they support the use of technology (50%) and that the use of technology in football is not necessary (50%). When the participants were asked about the main purpose of VAR Technology, the themes of fairness, objectivity, referee development, few mistakes, preventing critical mistakes, and keeping the nature of football intact were reached. Participants' views on VAR Technology are divided into two according to referees and match performance. Positive comments directed to referees are; correct decisions by referees, preventing losing points, decreasing the referee mistakes, developing of the referees, while the negative side is the referees to be discussed. The match performance was evaluated negatively by the participants and was evaluated as loss of time, loss of naturalness, getting disaffected from the match, waning of excitement, and loss of motivation. Participants when asked whether there is a difference or not in the application of VAR Technology, in terms of implementation, in the World compared to Turkey have expressed the opinion that there is no difference between them. Finally, it was seen that the participants participating in the study expressed their opinion about the future of VAR Technology that this technology will develop in the coming years and should be supported.