VAR (Video Assistant Referee) has been a controversial and polarizing topic in football since its introduction. While it aims to ensure that decisions made during a match are accurate, it has also sparked debate due to its inconsistency and impact on the flow of the game. Many players have expressed their thoughts on VAR in post-match interviews, with reactions ranging from frustration to cautious support. Here’s a look at what some players have said about VAR and its impact on the game:

1. Sergio Agüero (Former Manchester City striker)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Agüero has been quite vocal about his frustration with VAR, especially after it disallowed a number of his goals.
• Notable Moment: After a controversial disallowed goal against Tottenham in 2019, Agüero expressed his frustration, saying, “I think we have to respect the referees and the rules, but it’s difficult for players when goals are disallowed after being on the pitch for a while, and the celebrations are already over.” Agüero’s comments highlight how VAR can affect the emotional flow of the game for both players and fans.

2. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur & England striker)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Kane has been relatively measured but candid in his views on VAR. He’s acknowledged that VAR can help improve accuracy but also stressed its disruptive nature.
• Notable Moment: After a controversial handball decision in the 2019/20 season, Kane said, “I think VAR has its pros and cons, it’s still early days. But I’m not sure if it’s been a positive or negative overall yet.” Kane’s comments reflect the uncertainty that many players feel about the system, with some expressing concerns over how it disrupts the natural flow of matches.

3. James Milner (Liverpool midfielder)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Milner has been one of the more outspoken critics of VAR, particularly when decisions don’t go in favor of his team.
• Notable Moment: After a match against Leicester in 2020, Milner said, “It’s a difficult one. Sometimes it feels like it’s just making it worse, and the more you use it, the more mistakes it seems to create.” He expressed how VAR often seems to cause confusion rather than clarity, especially when decisions are overturned after a long review process.

4. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool defender)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Van Dijk has spoken openly about his frustrations with VAR, particularly with the fine margins used to judge offside decisions.
• Notable Moment: After a controversial offside decision against Liverpool, Van Dijk said, “It’s frustrating because you score a goal, and then you have to wait, and it’s taken away because of something so marginal.” This comment emphasizes how the fine margins of offside calls via VAR can be incredibly frustrating for players, especially when celebrations are cut short.

5. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United forward)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Rashford has been one of the more balanced players when discussing VAR, understanding both its purpose and the frustration it causes.
• Notable Moment: After a controversial VAR review in a match against Chelsea, Rashford said, “VAR has to make the right decision, but we have to accept it. Sometimes it’s hard, but it’s part of the game now.” Rashford’s response shows that while he understands the technology’s role in ensuring fairness, he also recognizes how emotionally taxing it can be when decisions go against his team.

6. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City forward)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Sterling has been outspoken about how VAR has impacted the experience of playing football, particularly in moments of celebration.
• Notable Moment: After his goal was ruled out in a match against Tottenham, Sterling said, “It’s frustrating. You don’t know whether to celebrate or not. You score, but then you’re waiting for the decision, and it kind of takes the enjoyment out of it.” Sterling’s frustration reflects how VAR’s delays can strip away the spontaneity and excitement of a goal celebration.

7. Timo Werner (Chelsea forward)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Werner has been a vocal critic of VAR’s inconsistency, particularly in how handball and offside decisions are made.
• Notable Moment: After a controversial offside decision in a game against Liverpool, Werner said, “VAR should be helping, but it sometimes feels like it’s just a lottery with how the decisions go. It’s very hard to accept when decisions change the game.” Werner’s comments echo the frustration many players feel when decisions seem arbitrary or inconsistent.

8. David de Gea (Manchester United goalkeeper)

• What He Thinks About VAR: De Gea has been critical of VAR, especially when it comes to penalty decisions that are reviewed by the technology.
• Notable Moment: After a 2020 match in which Manchester United were awarded a controversial penalty, De Gea said, “I’m not sure VAR is always right. I think we have to be honest with it, sometimes the technology doesn’t make it clear, and it causes confusion.” De Gea’s comments focus on the lack of clarity that VAR can sometimes create, rather than simply providing clear answers.

9. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City midfielder)

• What He Thinks About VAR: De Bruyne has been fairly diplomatic in his comments about VAR, recognizing its potential benefits while also expressing frustrations with certain aspects of it.
• Notable Moment: After a controversial handball decision in a match against Liverpool, De Bruyne said, “You can’t change the rules of the game every year, and it feels like VAR is doing that. It’s making the game less exciting in some ways.” De Bruyne’s comment highlights the sense of unpredictability that VAR can introduce into matches, often leading to frustration from both players and fans.

10. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea forward)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Pulisic has expressed concerns about how VAR can undermine the natural flow of the game, particularly with its impact on goal celebrations.
• Notable Moment: After scoring a goal against Tottenham in 2020, Pulisic said, “It’s hard when you score and then immediately have to look up to see if it’s going to count or not. VAR is supposed to help, but it’s taking away from the enjoyment of the game.” Pulisic’s sentiment is shared by many players who feel that the emotional aspect of football is diminished by constant reviews.

11. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami forward)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Messi has remained relatively calm in interviews about VAR, but he’s expressed some doubts about the fairness of certain decisions.
• Notable Moment: After a match where VAR decisions went against his team, Messi said, “I think the technology should help, but we must ensure the decisions are consistent, and sometimes it doesn’t feel like they are.” Messi’s words highlight how VAR’s inconsistency can lead to frustration, especially when key moments of a match are decided by marginal calls.

12. N’Golo Kanté (Al-Ittihad & France midfielder)

• What He Thinks About VAR: Kanté has taken a more neutral stance on VAR, acknowledging its role in making the game fairer but also recognizing its limitations.
• Notable Moment: After a match in which a penalty was reviewed by VAR, Kanté said, “We have to trust the technology, but at the same time, it’s not always easy to accept when it takes away moments of celebration. It’s difficult to find the balance.” Kanté’s comments emphasize the delicate balance between technology and human error in officiating.