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22nd July 2024
01:54pm BST
A top-flight match in Norway had to be abandoned on Sunday as fans threw food onto the pitch to protest the use of VAR.
The clash between Rosenborg and Lillestrom was abandoned after only half an hour had been played as both sets of supporters came together in a physical display of distain towards VAR.
The protest included the throwing of fish cakes and tennis balls onto the pitch accompanied by a chant of "F***ing hate VAR."
The game had initially been interrupted after only six minutes with Rosenborg fans throwing tennis balls onto the pitch, but, as the stoppages continued, the referee eventually had to order the players to leave the field.
As they did so a banner was revealed reading "We will never give up. VAR will go away."
An announcement over the tannoy had threatened the fans with the abandonment of the match if the protests continued, however both sets of supporters could not be dissuaded.
VAR was introduced in Norway last year with 70 fan groups protesting its arrival.
Just back in April, Sweden voted against the use of VAR after fan outcry against its introduction with the president of the Swedish FA, Fredrik Reinfeldt, confirming the technology would not be used in Swedish competitions.
The VAR U-turn in Sweden represents the benefits of fan ownership in helping promote a more democratic sport.
Reinfeldt said: "We have 18 elite clubs and two districts that have said they do not want to introduce VAR. We respect that.
“That’s why we didn’t bring forward any proposal about VAR to the previous board of representatives meeting and I don’t foresee it in the future either. I stand by respecting the democratic rules of the game.”
Despite rumour that Swedish clubs may be forced into employing VAR for UEFA competitions, it would seem for now that this will not be enforced.
The Swedish Professional Football Leagues group has campaign against VAR being trialled in Sweden.
Its general secretary, Johan Lindvall, said at the time: “Sweden is currently the only country among Europe’s 30 highest-ranked leagues that has not decided to introduce VAR.
“The fact that we have not done so is largely due to our democratic model. We are proud of our club democracy and we must protect it.”
VAR has been a controversial technology ever since its mass roll-out across Europe.
Most football fans agree that VAR works, however it is the people in charge who use it incorrectly.
Premier League clubs voted to keep VAR in June after Wolves motioned to scrap the technology from the league.
Out of the 20 clubs 19 voted to keep VAR while only Wolves were in favour of getting rid of it.
Fourteen votes in favour was the threshold to action the motion meaning fans can expect the same VAR rollercoaster all again next season.
