THE IMPACT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE VAR TECHNOLOGY ON THE SPECTATORS AND MEDIA COVERAGE OF FOOTBALL
THE IMPACT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE VAR TECHNOLOGY ON THE SPECTATORS AND MEDIA COVERAGE OF FOOTBALL

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with the introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) as a technical aid for the purpose of minimizing refereeing mistakes and errors. The research in the paper includes the definition of VAR and the observations of various experts, scientists and survey participants. The goal of the research is to determine the influence of VAR on the audience, media and quality of the media coverage of football. The paper provides five hypotheses. The first one implies that VAR makes journalists and media more critical of refereeing mistakes. The second one entails that the introduction of the VAR technology has increased the trust in referees. The third hypothesis suggests that VAR has a negative effect on football as a game as well as on the emotions of spectators and fans. The fourth one relies on the fact that the application of VAR is still in the development stage and the last one presupposes that football is still more prone, despite the application of VAR, to discussions about refereeing decisions than other sports. In order to support the above hypotheses, a survey was conducted. The content analysis is based on the quantitative method, though some elements of the qualitative method have also been used. The discussion has generated the elements which confirm the set hypotheses. The concluding considerations indicate the need to proceed with the use and development of IT technology in sports as well as with related research.

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