Norwegian Clubs Push to Abandon VAR in Domestic Football

A majority of Norway's top-tier clubs have voted to discontinue VAR, with a final decision expected in March by the Norwegian Football Federation.

Nineteen of the 32 clubs in Norway's top two football divisions voted to recommend scrapping VAR, citing dissatisfaction with its current implementation.
The final decision will be made by the Norwegian Football Federation's 'football parliament' during a meeting on March 1-2, 2025.
Fan protests against VAR, including disruptions involving fish cakes and tennis balls, have highlighted widespread discontent since the system's introduction in 2023.
Concerns remain about the potential financial implications of removing VAR, particularly regarding existing television rights agreements that run through 2028.
While the recommendation is to phase out VAR 'as soon as possible,' no immediate timeline has been set, ensuring the 2025 season will still use the system.