The debate over VAR’s potential introduction to the Championship has divided players, managers, and fans across the EFL.
With calls for technological consistency between the Premier League and its feeder division growing louder, the argument for and against Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention is reaching boiling point. Recently, Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom suggested his side could have won a game with VAR.
But would fans be the winners if it were introduced?
The Yes To VAR Argument
The Championship has long prided itself on being English football’s most unpredictable and emotionally charged competition. Tight margins, frantic finishes, and human error have defined the league’s appeal. Yet as the Premier League continues to refine its VAR system, pressure is mounting for the EFL to follow suit and align officiating standards.
Supporters of VAR argue that its absence in the second tier creates a two-tier system of justice. When teams are promoted, they enter a league where every decision is digitally scrutinised, but for 46 games in the Championship, they rely entirely on human judgement. Supporters, such as Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael, believe it would eradicate poor decisions. Premier League fans might disagree!
#Football #PremierLeague #VARReview: ⚽️🥅VAR has been the subject of controversy in football ever since its innovation.
Pundits and fans have questioned consistencies and inconsistencies with this tool.
Here are some of the most recent examples in this thread below… 👇🔽📖 pic.twitter.com/g767wYbJxc
— Isaiah Williams (@WilliamsIsaiahO) February 10, 2022
Managers such as those in recent promotion races have repeatedly called for help from technology after controversial refereeing moments. Disallowed goals, marginal offsides, and missed penalties have shaped seasons and, in some cases, cost clubs millions in prize money.
The argument for fairness, at least on paper, is compelling.
Why Some Say No
The case against VAR, however, cuts to football’s soul. Opponents say the Championship’s greatest strength lies in its authenticity — real emotion, instant drama, and the human side of officiating. VAR’s reputation for interrupting play, sucking atmosphere from stadiums, and delaying celebrations is a major sticking point.
Fans across the Premier League have grown weary of lengthy stoppages, lines drawn across screens, and the uncertainty that follows every goal. For many, importing that to the EFL’s most passionate league would be a mistake.
There is also the financial reality. Installing VAR requires significant investment in technology, staffing, and infrastructure — costs that not every Championship club could easily absorb. The EFL’s emphasis on financial sustainability makes any new expenditure politically sensitive. While Premier League clubs can afford the full broadcast infrastructure needed for VAR, many in the second tier still operate on tight margins.
Have we just gotten away with one there? pic.twitter.com/kFRtBEGdlQ
— CMF (@Ohffs1984) October 21, 2025
Then there’s the referee factor. Championship officials already face scrutiny for key calls, but VAR could change the pressure they experience entirely. Rather than improving accountability, some fear it would shift blame elsewhere, turning referees into facilitators of technology rather than arbiters of the game.
Conclusion
Football is changing, and the direction of travel feels inevitable. FIFA and UEFA competitions already deploy video technology at almost every level, and the Premier League has refined its use with semi-automated offside systems and improved communication between officials. The Championship risks being left behind if it clings to a more traditional model for too long.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher believes VAR should be introduced, albeit a scaled back version that hinders the game a little less. However, perhaps the real solution lies in adaptation rather than resistance. A streamlined version of VAR, used only for clear and obvious errors, or limited to major fixtures, could bridge the gap between technology and tradition.
It would allow the EFL to maintain the Championship’s emotional intensity while embracing modern officiating standards where they matter most.
For now, the issue remains unresolved. The EFL has acknowledged discussions around expanding technology but insists that any move must have club and fan backing. With the Championship’s competitive balance and financial landscape unlike any other league in Europe, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
What’s certain is that the debate over VAR’s future in the EFL will not fade. Whether seen as a necessary evolution or an unwelcome intrusion, its arrival would mark a fundamental shift in how the league sees itself, a choice between fairness and feeling, precision and passion.
