Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) has conducted a fan survey that revealed the majority of Manchester United’s fans are unhappy with the current state of VAR in football. The survey, sent to MUST’s membership of over 100,000 and season ticket holders of Manchester United, showed that only 0.6% of respondents wanted to keep VAR as is. The majority of fans either wanted to abolish VAR completely (50.6%) or continue using it with changes to address current issues (48.8%).
Among those who wanted reform, the most commonly suggested improvements included better communication with fans, faster decisions, and using the system only for clear and obvious errors. A MUST spokesperson emphasized the need for Manchester United to consider these results when they vote on the future of VAR next month. The spokesperson highlighted that fans, especially match-going supporters, are frustrated with VAR and believe it has had a negative impact on the game.
It was noted that fans often feel left in the dark during VAR decisions, which can detract from the overall atmosphere in the stadium. The spokesperson called for either the removal of VAR entirely or significant reforms to improve its effectiveness. The results of the survey point to a strong discontent among fans towards the current implementation of VAR in the Premier League.
