Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Lee Mason was in the booth for the Newcastle v Crystal Palace match on Saturday where the home side had a goal ruled out

Lee Mason dropped as VAR official for weekend fixtures

Lee Mason has not been selected as a VAR for a Premier League match at the weekend following a controversial disallowed goal for Newcastle on Saturday.

Soccer • 05 Sep 22

Referee Jarred Gillett was slammed by David Moyes for his VAR intervention

Premier League asks for VAR to be checked

The Premier League has asked referees' body PGMOL to review the controversial VAR decisions at Chelsea and Newcastle on Saturday.

Soccer • 04 Sep 22

Wait times for offside decisions should be vastly reduced

Semi-automated offside introduced for Champions League

Semi-automated offside technology will be introduced at next week's UEFA Super Cup clash between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt before being used in this season's Champions League.

Soccer • 03 Aug 22

VAR's introduction received the necessary 75% votes

Scottish clubs say yes to VAR technology

VAR technology will be introduced in Scottish football's top flight next season after plans were backed by clubs.

Soccer • 19 Apr 22

The resolution requires 75% of cinch Premiership clubs, 75% of clubs in the Championship and 75% of clubs in Leagues 1 and 2 combined to vote in favour

Scottish clubs to vote on introduction of VAR

Scottish football will find out on Tuesday if the cinch Premiership is to have the aid of Video Assistant Referees.

Soccer • 18 Apr 22

VAR officials will be given new terms of reference

Changes to VAR set to lead to fewer penalties

The Premier League will look to clamp down on soft penalties in the season ahead, while attackers are set to benefit from the scrapping of so-called 'toenail' offsides.

Soccer • 02 Aug 21

VAR was used sparingly at the recent European Championship

Hackett hopes Premier League follows Euros take on VAR

Former referees boss Keith Hackett has backed calls for the Premier League to follow UEFA's decision at Euro 2020 and minimise the use of the video assistant referee.

Soccer • 13 Jul 21

Currently, assistant referees' decisions on offside are double-checked afterwards by VAR

Wenger expects automated offside at 2022 World Cup

FIFA will be ready to implement an automated system for offside calls at next year's World Cup in Qatar, Arsene Wenger said.

Soccer • 08 Apr 21

Alex McCarthy (L) appeared to foul Man City's Phil Foden

'What is going?' - Pep bemused by VAR oversight

Pep Guardiola called for someone to explain "what is going on" with VAR after Manchester City were controversially denied a penalty in their 5-2 win over Southampton.

Soccer • 10 Mar 21

Referee David Coote applied the rule as it stands

Parker questions handball rule after defeat to Spurs

Fulham boss Scott Parker questioned the handball rule after his side were denied a deserved equaliser in a 1-0 defeat to Spurs.

Soccer • 04 Mar 21

Dean Smith felt Ollie Watkins was shoved into an offside position

Smith: VAR 'wrong' to deny Villa late penalty

Dean Smith felt Aston Villa were denied a stoppage-time penalty in their 2-1 defeat at West Ham because VAR was too busy looking at offside against Ollie Watkins.

Soccer • 30 Nov 20

Andy Robertson (left) fell foul of VAR during Liverpool's draw with Brighton

Robertson frustrated by VAR inconsistencies

Andy Robertson says VAR is not delivering in terms of consistency and unless it improves he would prefer to see full responsibility handed back to referees.

Soccer • 30 Nov 20

FIFA asks tech firms for higher quality VAR replays

FIFA has asked technology companies to develop ways to improve visuals to help its officials with close video assistant referee (VAR) decisions on offsides.

Soccer • 17 Nov 20

Universidad Católica's home ground in Santiago, Chile

Chilean team score penalty a month after it was given

Chilean league leaders Universidad Catolica converted a penalty on Wednesday - nearly one month after it was awarded.

Soccer • 11 Nov 20

Keith Hackett gives West Ham's Tony Gale his marching orders in the Irons' loss to Nottingham Forest in the 1991 FA Cup semi-final

Hackett hits out at VAR and current men in the middle

Error-prone Premier League referees are not good enough, video assistant referee technology is not fit for purpose and the game has "lost the plot" over handball, according to former English referees chief Keith Hackett.

Soccer • 11 Nov 20

The Arsenal boss was upset not to have VAR in operation during the group stages

Arteta demands swift VAR introduction in Europa League

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has called for VAR to be introduced into the Europa League as soon as possible.

Soccer • 06 Nov 20

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp saw his side go level on points with Everton at the Premier League summit on Saturday night

Klopp irked by series of VAR decisions

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has stated that his side have been on the wrong end of VAR decisions in half their Premier League matches this season.

Soccer • 25 Oct 20

Newcastle won a penalty after Andy Carroll headed the ball at Eric Dier's arm

Raft of handball penalties 'an embarrassment' - ex ref

Former top-flight referee George Courtney has expressed his sympathy with the current crop of Premier League match officials and labelled the recent string of penalties awarded for handball as an "embarrassment" for the game.

Soccer • 28 Sep 20

'I could sit here for hours and talk about this'

'It should be me complaining' - Ole rubbishes VAR jibes

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has responded to Frank Lampard's suggestion that Manchester United are getting a run of VAR decisions in their favour ahead of the FA Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea.

Soccer • 18 Jul 20

VAR is suspended for the return of the A-League

A-League suspends use of VAR ahead of restart

Australia's soccer top flight is suspending the use of VAR when the season resumes on Friday after a four-month break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Soccer • 16 Jul 20

Referees in the Premier League have been very sparing in their use of monitors

Collina calls on referees to use VAR monitors more

Referees' chief Pierluigi Collina has underlined the importance of using pitchside monitors and warned video assistant referees must not to show the "wrong kind of solidarity" by supporting incorrect on-field calls.

Soccer • 10 Jul 20

The general implementation should the same, says Collina

FIFA wants uniform global use of VAR, says Collina

FIFA wants VAR reviews to be applied in the same way across all competitions, as they take over direct responsibility for the system.

Soccer • 09 Jul 20

VAR could be dropped under the temporary measures

Five subs and a VAR cessation among FIFA amendments

Football's lawmakers have approved a temporary rule change that will allow each side up to five substitutes per match, while opening up the prospect for the controversial video assistant referee system to be suspended.

Soccer • 08 May 20

Dominic Calvert-Lewin shot but Gylfi Sigurdsson was sitting on the ground and judged to be offside

Everton denied maximum points as VAR saves United

Everton and Manchester United drew 1-1 at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Sunday in an enthralling game which ended in VAR drama.

Soccer • 01 Mar 20

Offside law to come under review, says football body

The International Football Association Board has hinted a possible review of the offside law after much controversy over tight offside calls going against the attacking side with the use of video assistant referees.

Soccer • 29 Feb 20