Examining Legal Challenges of Modern Technologies in Sports Arbitration: A Case Study of VAR in Football

The integration of novel technologies like Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in sports arbitration has revolutionized decision-making processes in football, yet it introduces complex legal challenges. This case study examines the legal ambiguities, ethical dilemmas, and regulatory gaps associated with VAR implementation, focusing on its impact on fairness, accountability, and the authority of referees. Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed 150 contentious VAR decisions across five major football leagues (2020–2024), combined with semi-structured interviews with 30 legal experts, referees, and sports administrators. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression and Cohen’s kappa inter-rater reliability tests, revealed a 22% reduction in referee errors post-VAR adoption (p < 0.001). However, 34% of decisions still faced legal disputes over procedural transparency, highlighting inconsistencies in the interpretation of FIFA’s Laws of the Game. Bayesian hierarchical models further identified a 15% increase in game stoppage time (β = 0.18, 95% CrI [0.12, 0.24]), raising concerns about the "right to a timely resolution" in sports law. The study advocates for standardized protocols to address liability frameworks for VAR-induced errors and proposes a weighted decision-review algorithm to balance technological precision with human judgment. These findings underscore the urgent need for harmonizing emerging technologies with existing legal structures in global sports governance.