Karlsruhe/St. Julian’s – April 09, 2026. The public debate surrounding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is currently dominated by criticism.

While the majority of fans in the UK recently appeared to oppose the use of VAR in the Premier League, current data from Germany paints a different picture: Most German fans view VAR in the Bundesliga much more positively – even more so than the current public discussion
would suggest.

VAR more accepted than its reputation suggests

A representative survey of the general population conducted by the Tipico Sports Data Center in collaboration with the sports business and research consultancy ONE8Y
shows that among football fans in Germany, 69.6 percent see VAR as having a positive impact on the game, and 69.2 percent generally consider the decisions to be
reasonable. At the same time, 75.3 percent rate the referees’ performance as fair or very fair.

These results show that VAR is fundamentally accepted and is perceived as contributing to greater fairness. At the same time, opinions remain mixed. Only 20.9 percent consider VAR indispensable without reservation, while another 47.5 percent are open to VAR but call for improvements.

Interference with the game flow

While objectivity increases, many fans feel that the game’s dynamics – and thus its emotional aspect – suffer as a result. And football is experienced with great emotion:
83.9 percent and 70.6 percent, respectively, perceive the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga as very or somewhat emotional. Among other things, the style of play, sporting excitement, and number of goals are considered particularly attractive and thrilling – elements directly affected by the video referee. Especially since 73.1 percent of VAR opponents primarily criticize the interrupted game flow. The data thus points to
a response to a frequently voiced criticism: Should VAR only correct very obvious mistakes, but not scrutinize the game in minute detail for potential errors?

Conclusion: VAR is widely accepted by German fans Overall, according to the latest market research, a surprisingly clear picture emerges:

VAR is more popular than its reputation suggests. At the same time, however, there is significant potential for further development of its use: foremost among these is the question of how to best preserve the flow and emotion of the game.

About the Survey

The Tipico Sports Data Center, in collaboration with ONE8Y, conducts a monthly survey to gauge the sentiment of football fans in Germany. This nationally representative market research study was conducted by the sports business and research consultancy ONE8Y on behalf of Tipico from March 24 to 26, 2026. A total of 1,376 people from Germany who had previously indicated an interest in football participated in the survey. More about ONE8Y: www.one8y-db.com

The Tipico Sports Data Center

The Tipico Sports Data Center continuously analyzes current and historical performance data. This includes tens of thousands of data points on sports competitions, teams, and players. Based on this, Tipico’s data experts calculate, among other things, the probabilities for the most important events in the upcoming matches of a Bundesliga matchday: final scores, number and timing of goals, goal scorers, and much more. Additionally, the Tipico Sports Data Center incorporates fan sentiment. This combination yields unique, data-driven insights into upcoming sporting events.

Founded in 2004, Tipico Group now employs around 3,800 staff members. Together with our partners, almost 6,800 people take care of our customers every day in over 1,250 betting shops across Germany and Austria, making Tipico Group the operator of the largest shop network in the German-speaking region.