Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) became one of the most talked-about technologies of modern football. The system increased the accuracy of key game decisions, and more leagues started using VAR every season since its introduction in 2017. Considering that most competitions use tech, many wonder whether the Championship has VAR.
Some fans like VAR as it can eliminate annoying errors from the game, giving a sense of justice to both spectators and the players. However, some don't like the system, as it can disrupt a game's flow while creating confusion in stadiums. The drama extends beyond the pitch, too, especially when placing live bets on a match. An overturned decision can suddenly change the outcome of an existing wager on a UK betting app, which is always a sour feeling for me.
Considering there are still a few leagues out there that don't use VAR, the fluid nature of the ball play in the EFL Championship league may have caused fans to question if there is VAR in the league. Here's everything we know about VAR's existence in the Championship.
No, VAR is not used during regular EFL Championship matches. Despite being widely implemented in the Premier League, the Championship has not adopted VAR for its league fixtures due to logistical limitations and cost.
Many football grounds in England still don't have the infrastructure needed to support VAR technology. Mobilising this system would also significantly increase costs for the Championship league and the participating teams, so the league fixtures of the Championship have been without VAR.
Yes, VAR is used in the EFL Championship play-off final, but not in the semi-finals. The reason behind the difference is the fact that the finals are held at Wembley Stadium, where there is full VAR support. On the other hand, semi-finals take place at the home grounds of the participating teams, which may lack the infrastructure for VAR.
At the time of writing, all EFL play-off finals will use VAR technologies, according to BBC Sport.
The EFL Championship is unlikely to use VAR anytime soon. Upgrading every ground to a point where they can support VAR would be a significant financial burden. Championship's broadcast revenue is significantly lower than the Premier League, which causes teams to operate on tighter budgets that don't justify investing in VAR support.
It's not entirely on teams either, as a VAR system in the Championship would require additional refereeing and broadcasting personnel. While VAR makes appearances for high-stakes EFL fixtures like the Championship play-off final, it's likely to remain unavailable for regular fixtures, which are also some of the most popular attractions for local fans looking to spectate their teams and punters on football betting apps.
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