Former English footballer and commentator Paul Masefield has said that VAR has broadly served a positive function at the FIFA World Cup 2026, but cautioned that the technology must remain a support tool — with on-field referees retaining ultimate decision-making authority. Masefield, part of the expert panel for ZEE5's FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage, shared his assessment on 16 June as the tournament's opening week drew to a close amid a string of VAR-related controversies.

Masefield's Core Argument

'I think technology is helping to an extent, but I still think there should be the physical element with the referee who does have to make that final decision on whether he wants to overturn his decision or whether or not he wants to stick with his own decision,' Masefield said.

He went further, urging officials to demonstrate greater conviction rather than feeling pressured into reversals by technological prompts. 'I personally like to see referees be a little bit stronger themselves and stick to their decisions,' he added. The remarks reflect a broader debate in football governance about where human judgement ends and algorithmic authority begins.

Controversies That Defined the Opening Week

The FIFA World Cup 2026's first week was marked by two significant VAR incidents that drew global attention. During the Qatar vs Switzerland opener, a reported 'technical outage' disrupted the semi-automated offside system, preventing its 3D graphics from being broadcast. The failure left fans and pundits without transparency over a penalty awarded to Switzerland — fuelling widespread frustration.

Off the pitch, Australian VAR official Shaun Evans triggered a major disciplinary investigation after making a controversial hand gesture on the live global broadcast feed from the Dallas VAR hub. He was subsequently cleared of any violations of the ethics code, according to reports.

Why This World Cup Has Avoided Major Delays

Despite the controversies, Masefield noted that the tournament has, so far, been largely free of the extended VAR stoppages that routinely disrupt domestic leagues. 'I don't think we have really had one big major VAR decision throughout this World Cup so far. The little ones, yes and no. But there hasn't been a mega, mega hold-up for two or three minutes, which we see in the Premier League every week, where decisions need to be sorted out,' he said.

He attributed this, in part, to a change in player behaviour. 'I think the VAR there is more of a deterrent for people. I think we are seeing behaviours from players to not get VAR to intervene,' he added. This deterrence effect — where players self-regulate to avoid triggering reviews — is an underreported dimension of how technology reshapes on-pitch conduct.

The Bigger Picture for Football Technology

The FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is the first edition to feature an expanded 48-team format, placing greater logistical and officiating demands on FIFA's technology infrastructure. The early teething issues have intensified calls from coaches and broadcasters for greater transparency in how VAR decisions are communicated to stadiums and television audiences.

As the group stage progresses, the balance between technological assistance and referee authority is likely to remain a central talking point — both on the pitch and in football's governing corridors.