Last updated on May 7th, 2025
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Do you remember the crazy Champions League season 2018/2019 and the match between two English clubs, Manchester City and Tottenham? In that game, Pep Guardiola’s side was the absolute favorite. They went on to win the domestic treble, but the Spurs dramatically stopped their European journey. Even though the referee took a long look at Llorente’s goal for 4:3 because the ball hit his arm, he decided that the goal counted.
The real heartbreak for Citizens by VAR happened in the last minute when everyone thought Raheem Sterling had scored, but the referee ruled it offside seconds later. If it weren’t for VAR, who knows what would have happened? Would Manchester City’s squad from that season go down in history as the best of all time, winning every trophy in the game?
Why did VAR change the game?
Video Assistant Referee was first used in 2016, but it was officially approved by FIFA for the World Cup 2018. The VAR’s impact on football focuses on the referee’s decisions on penalties, direct red cards, offside, and all other essential rules in football matches. Talking about the pros and cons of VAR, many would agree that the best thing about it is fair play in the matches and no more unexplainable referee decisions that impact the entire tournament or league. Let’s just take the famous Chelsea-Barcelona game in 2009, for example. Not many would have predicted that Barcelona would win the Champions League that season if the VAR technology had been invented back then.
Talking about the cons, it is inevitable that bettors feel that VAR has the most disadvantages. As minutes are crucial, bettors need to get used to VAR, but they can look to speed up things in other fields. With mobile payment systems, bettors can experience near-instant transaction approvals, ensuring no prolonged wait, unlike VAR, where the delay can be frustrating. As technology evolves, it is essential to understand video technology in football to identify potential mistakes. For a new level of excitement in sports betting, sites like GGBet, FunBet, and 1Bet offer a live sports betting feature with odds changing almost every second of the match. To potentially achieve more success in sports betting, you can read more and find the best betting options. With dynamic odds and fast-paced action, live betting keeps you engaged throughout the whole 90 minutes of the game. Live betting is all about to learn and understand the odds, try to make the right decision with fast thinking, but always play responsibly.
How VAR impacts football betting is best portrayed by this decision-making time that creates an unstable environment. The introduction of VAR has added a new level of unpredictability to football betting. While it brings more accuracy to crucial decisions on the pitch, it also injects a sense of suspense and tension that can completely change the outcome of a bet. Moments that once seemed clear, like penalties, goals, and red cards, are now subject to review, creating extra tension for bettors. Also, it adds new ideas for live betting and makes the experience more entertaining!
Market Adjustments – New Betting Opportunities
Bookmakers have swiftly adjusted by establishing new betting markets and modifying odds in real time, despite the difficulties presented by VAR. Now, bettors may place bets on many VAR-influenced parts of a game, including whether a goal will be disallowed, if a penalty will be given, or whether a VAR review will overturn a decision. Since players now have to account for the uncertainty created by VAR reviews, this change means understanding VAR and betting strategy.
These betting tactics are also greatly influenced by the impact of VAR controversies. Bettors are now examining trends in VAR rulings, such as how frequently goals are disallowed or penalties are given following a review, because these decisions can occasionally be contentious or ambiguous. VAR affects match results and the betting market itself, adding another level of complication to this changing environment. For many, the goal is to keep ahead of the game’s unpredictable nature.
Adapting to the New Normal
Not long ago, the future of VAR in soccer was uncertain as Premier League clubs voted to eliminate VAR from use in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Also, speaking about the Premier League and its fans, many play FPL, where VAR can cause trouble. Imagine the disappointment when a defender from your squad scores and you celebrate points that will put you in a higher place in the table, just to realize VAR has denied the goal moments later. But it seems like VAR implementation in leagues is not going anywhere for a long time, and fans who don’t like it will have to get used to it. The same goes for bettors.
However, some VAR football betting tips, like tracking VAR statistics—such as the frequency of VAR interventions in different leagues, teams, or by specific referees—can significantly enhance a bettor’s ability to make better decisions. Bettors can determine which referees or teams are more likely to have VAR reviews by looking for trends and whether confident choices, such as goals, penalties, or red cards, are more likely to be overturned. With this information, bettors can adjust their VAR and betting strategy according to the possibility that a VAR review would change the result of a game.
Conclusion
Considering VAR as a developing aspect of football that gives the game additional dimensions rather than as a barrier is key for bettors and football fans worldwide.
Since last-minute VAR reviews have the potential to change odds and results, VAR’s impact on cash-out betting is an important consideration. Bettors can improve their betting process by making wiser, better-informed decisions by being aware of these changes and adapting to technology that enhances the game’s fairness above everything else.
