Debate about the VAR
A single nation stands in the way of video evidence
11/11/2025 – 3:08 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
The debates about video evidence in European professional football continue. One country shows that it can work without the VAR.
Once again, video evidence was an issue in the Bundesliga at the weekend. After his team’s 2-2 draw against FC Bayern, Union Berlin coach Steffen Baumgart was upset that Köpenicker’s early lead goal did not count after the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened due to a minimal offside position by goal scorer Ilyas Ansah. In fact, it couldn’t actually be seen with the naked eye that the Unioner had been standing in the forbidden zone.
“The first goal is a goal. So to give those five millimeters for offside, I have to say: Some paint was drunk,” Baumgart rumbled at Sky. The previous week, Union had already had trouble with the VAR after a goal by Andrej Ilić in the 0-0 draw against Freiburg was overturned by referee Sören Storks after an endless study of the video images.
The cases at the capital club are no exception. Week after week, due to decisions that are not always entirely clear, the debate about video evidence simmers in football Germany – but also far beyond the borders of the republic. Because: 29 of the 30 top leagues in Europe use VAR. Only one nation is taking a stand when it comes to the use of video technology: Sweden.
In the summer of 2024, a democratically brought about fundamental decision was made in Sweden. Video evidence should not be used in the nation’s professional football in the future either. 18 of the 32 best clubs in the country had previously voted against the introduction of VAR.
“We respect this attitude, which is why we no longer presented a proposal for VAR at the most recent representative meeting,” said Sweden’s then association president Fredrik Reinfeldt, who had previously spoken out in favor of video evidence, shortly after the clubs’ decision. There is apparently no requirement from the continental association Uefa to introduce the VAR. “As I have heard, the decision is ours. And it looks relatively clear: the clubs do not want the introduction of this technology,” explained Reinfeldt.