Complaints about the Premier League's use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) have become a weekly ritual for fans and pundits alike. Yet at the 2026 World Cup, the conversation around video review has been remarkably quiet. This is despite the fact that, statistically, VAR is intervening more often per game than it did in the English top flight last season.
The statistical paradox
According to BBC Sport analysis, the rate of VAR interventions at the World Cup stands at 0.33 per game, down from 0.41 in Qatar 2022 but still higher than the Premier League’s 0.29. Yet subjective reviews – when the referee is sent to the pitchside monitor – are locked at 0.15 per game in both competitions. In contrast, the Champions League saw 0.36 monitor visits per match last season, more than double that figure.
The average number of fouls blown per match also tells a story. In 2018, referees called 27 fouls per game; in 2022, it fell to 25; and at this World Cup, it has dropped to 21.7 – almost identical to the Premier League’s 21.6. Caution counts have fallen to just 2.4 per game, well below any other recent major tournament. With fewer stoppages and a higher threshold for contact, the very fabric of World Cup officiating appears closer to the English model than ever before.
Collina's high-bar philosophy
The architect of this shift is Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s head of referees. The Italian legend has long stressed that football is a contact sport and not every collision is a foul. He wants free-flowing, high-tempo matches, an approach that could be lifted straight from the Premier League handbook.
“If you change the way a game is being refereed, you must adapt video review too,” Collina has said, explaining the link between a higher on-field threshold and fewer VAR interventions.
That philosophy was evident when Kylian Mbappé was tripped by Sadio Mané but no penalty was given, or when John McGinn and Scott McTominay had penalty claims waved away for Scotland against Morocco. All were deemed too soft for Collina’s desired threshold, mirroring the “high bar” that English fans have been told to expect.
This consistent line means that VAR is used less for minor infractions but remains decisive on clear errors. To date, four goals have been disallowed on review, including after the intervention of video match officials. The red card shown to South Africa’s Themba Zwane for violent conduct in the opening match stands as the tournament’s most contentious moment, but such flashpoints have been rare.
Perception vs reality
If the numbers suggest VAR is more active at the World Cup, why does it feel so much less intrusive? The answer lies in psychology and context. A World Cup match typically contains around one key match incident (red card, penalty shout) per game, compared to three in a Premier League fixture. With fewer controversial moments, there is simply less to scrutinise.
Moreover, the compressed schedule of a tournament dilutes anger. “Games come thick and fast,” notes BBC analyst Dale Johnson. “No sooner has one incident happened, another match comes along to wash over it.” In the Premier League, where supporters follow every result with tribal passion, controversy lingers for days. At a neutral-focused World Cup, the emotion dissipates quickly.
The elite referees selected by FIFA also help. With 51 top officials and 30 specialist VARs, the standard is generally higher. Combined with Collina’s directive to let the game flow, the overall product feels smoother—even if the data shows the video booth is busier than at home.
Key Takeaways
- VAR interventions per game are higher at the World Cup (0.33) than in the Premier League (0.29), yet the perception is that VAR is less intrusive.
- Pierluigi Collina has aligned World Cup officiating with a high-bar, Premier League-style ethos, reducing foul calls and cautions.
- Subjective monitor reviews are identical in both competitions at 0.15 per game, far lower than in the Champions League.
- The World Cup’s lower incident count, neutral audience, and rapid-match turnover explain why VAR creates less lasting controversy.
Quick Facts
VAR interventions per game: 0.33 (World Cup 2026) vs 0.29 (Premier League 2025-26)
Fouls per game: 21.7 (World Cup) vs 21.6 (Premier League)
Subjective reviews per game: 0.15 (both)
Goals disallowed by VAR at World Cup: 4 (as of 22 June 2026)
Key match incidents per game: 1 (World Cup) vs 3 (Premier League)
