Overview
- High‑profile 2026 World Cup reviews have overturned or altered decisions after referees used VAR and Connected Ball sensor data to judge earlier incidents as part of the same passage of play.
- In one match, officials cancelled a goal after reviewing a 17‑second‑earlier foul that VAR said directly affected the scoring sequence; in another, a corner‑time push led to a goal being voided and the corner retaken.
- FIFA Media released Connected Ball readings showing no sensor spike for an England–Norway episode, which FIFA says indicates no contact with the overhead cable in that play.
- Technical and communication gaps have eroded trust, with at least one World Cup review executed successfully but its explanatory broadcast infographic failing to display for viewers.
- Refereeing experts and researchers are urging clear limits on how far back reviews can reach, standardized on‑field protocols, and public post‑match explanations for consequential VAR interventions to restore transparency and consistency.