VAR Experiments in Major League Soccer (MLS)

Abstract

Major League Soccer (MLS) became one of the first professional leagues in the world to adopt video assistant referee (VAR) technology to make in-match decisions during the 2017 season. As an early-adopter of the technology, MLS has sought to provide clear rules and regulations as to when and how VAR is to be utilized during matches. This chapter provides a timeline of the implementation of VAR in MLS and includes an overview of the rationale league decision-makers used in determining the league’s readiness to adopt the technology. Initial data is reported on the usage of VAR from Week 22 of the 2017 MLS season through the completion of the 2018 season. Key incidents in which VAR has been utilized are highlighted, including notable reviews in the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Initial evidence suggests the usage of VAR in MLS is improving the accuracy of calls related to goals, penalty kicks, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. While controversies have occurred, the majority of those controversies could be categorized as instances in which the referee needed to make a judgement call in which the video evidence was not “clear and obvious”. Finally, an initial discussion is provided as to MLS fan perceptions of the implementation of video review.