O impacto do VAR na experiência dos adeptos de futebol

: de que forma é que a tecnologia afeta a experiência dos adeptos

Abstract

The implementation of the ‘Video Assistant Referee’ (VAR) in football had the main objective of increasing the consistency of refereeing decisions, thus contributing to greater fairness and transparency. However, the introduction of technology motivates research because of the need to understand its impact on the experience of fans, key agents for the sporting and economic success of the sport. Starting by analyzing the research question that underpins this study, ‘How does the implementation of VAR impact the fan experience?’, a quantitative methodology was followed, using a survey distributed via digital platforms. This study is based on four dimensions of analysis: fairness, transparency, experience, and behavior. The first dimension seeks to understand whether there has been an increase in the perception of fairness with the implementation of VAR, while transparency assesses whether refereeing decisions have become clearer and more comprehensible through VAR. Experience investigates how the interruptions caused by VAR affect the experience of watching matches. Finally, behavior seeks to analyze whether the implementation of VAR has impacted discussions about refereeing issues. On an academic level, this work contributes to an increase in knowledge about fans' understanding of the technological system, broadening the understanding of the interaction between the technological and social side of sport and, therefore extending to other disciplines. Thus, it provides significant contributions to football clubs and regulatory bodies in Portugal.

Date of Award	21 Jul 2025
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Rita Ribeiro (Supervisor)