The referee's fear of the 'VAR' - A micro-analysis of the transformation of the praxis of refereeing


Charlotte Nell, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

In this paper, we examine the use of the VAR (video-assistant-referee) in German soccer from a sociological-phenomenological perspective. We analyze the transformation of the praxis of refereeing before the background of broader social processes of digitalization and parametrization. Despite the argument that soccer is a game that transcends the workings of everyday life, we nonetheless argue that through an analysis of the transformation of the role and function of the referee, a logic of “parametric optimization” that is paradigmatic for late-modern culture can be uncovered. In a first step, we analyze the tasks of an idealtypically constructed “On-Field-Referee” who in his role resembles that of a “hermeneutic conductor”. From this sociology of knowledge perspective, the soccer match is considered a complex ‘situation’ where the field referee must deal with a variety of tasks but is also confronted with blind spots in his judgmental capacity. In contrast to the “hermeneutic conductor”, we will reconstruct the VAR’s role that resembles that of a “parametric accountant”. From a phenomenological perspective, this change reflects a transformation of “situations” into “constellations”, followed by an overemphasis on meticulous rule compliance. This, we argue, ultimately turns the decision-making process into a black box. In this way, the VAR not only delegitimizes the on-field referee but contributes to a process of “structured irresponsibility” on the pitch. The process of parametrization described here is, however, not only restricted to the soccer pitch. The gradual transformation of ‘situations’ into ‘constellations’ rather can be considered as symptomatic of late-modern culture altogether. Hence, the “parametric optimization” follows a logic that aims to guide the moral judgments of the referee by empirical and measurable experience alone. The question of what is right, nonetheless entails an ethical dimension that cannot be answered based on empirical data alone but requires moral judgment. The moral judgment of the “On-Field-referee” however becomes delegitimized and discouraged in the process of digitalization. The analysis presented here of the figure of the referee hence reflects changes in the understanding of the meaning of ‘impartiality’, ‘neutrality’, and objectivity under the conditions of ‘constellationism’. Finally, it is possible to use this framework to look more precisely at the emotional aspects of the game in the fan area. Soccer is a good example of how "negative" emotions such as anger or hatred can occur alongside positive emotions. In our presentation, we argue that changes in emotional reactions can be observed depending on the altered role of the referee. Initially, it may appear that the aggressive emotion of hate, directed towards the On-Field-Referee in the event of an (apparent) incorrect decision, transforms into a less controlled and situational emotion of anger with the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). This transformation at first seems to lead to a form of "protection" of the On-Field Referee. However, it can be argued that other emotions such as despite or disgust prevail and invectivities persist or even intensify. Consequently, the focus of anger during a game (no longer) revolves around a specific referee in a given situation but is rather transformed into a general disposition of anger towards any referee who now is perceived merely as a "function" within a broader VAR-network. This new quality of anger even holds a unifying potential of forging new alliances between opposing fan bases, previously inconceivable, albeit at the cost of the legitimacy and safety of the referee – who systematically and regardless of their performance runs the risk of becoming the most hated person in the stadium.

Non-presenting author: Diana Lindner, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

This paper will be presented at the following session: