Another domestic football season is underway and already, in mid-September, the shortcomings of technology in sport are at the center of the discourse once again.

The video assistant referee (VAR) is perhaps the most discussed technology in modern sport. While video replays have been in use for years in sports like American football, rugby or cricket, it has only been a decade since the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the highest regulatory authority in the sport, approved the use of VAR.

With artificial intelligence (AI) reportedly reaching dangerous levels of development and technological optimization of people's lives at an all-time high, it is perhaps a pertinent time to consider the use of technology in sport. Has it finally evolved from a supporting role to an all-powerful, game-altering one?

"The idea behind VAR was that technology could reduce human error while leaving the referee in charge," Susmit Gulavani, an assistant professor in AI and machine learning in sport at the University of South Carolina, told DW.

"Over time, however, VAR has expanded in both its use and its influence. The introduction of newer technologies, such as AI-assisted Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT), has made it an increasingly central part of decision making. While these advances have improved the precision of offside decisions, they have also raised expectations that technology should deliver perfect outcomes," he said.

"That is where the sense of "mission creep" comes from. VAR is now expected to resolve almost every contentious decision, even though many incidents, such as fouls or handball decisions, still require human interpretation."

That pursuit of perfection often leaves fans waiting and confused, and it breaks up a game that is fast and fluid. The World Cup this summer was evidence of that. And yet, if anything, the technology looks like it is finding more ways to embed itself into the sport.

VAR in the Bundesliga under the spotlight 

It has been nine years since VAR was introduced to the Bundesliga.

After the World Cup, German officials confirmed that VAR will also be allowed to have a say in second yellow cards and corner kicks in the Bundesliga. Granting technology additional powers did not go down well with organized fan groups in the country though, who launched a coordinated campaign calling for VAR to be scrapped in August this year. The broad message was that the technology has "robbed football of its joy" and that it was time to put the cameras back in the box.

This is particularly significant in Germany, where many fans are club members and therefore have genuine influence over the actions of their club and the governance of the game. Jochen Drees, the head of VAR operations in Germany, has however argued for refining the technology rather than removing it – a natural tendency, according to Gulavani.

VAR mission creep a symbol of technology's power

"VAR is a useful example of a broader societal pattern. As technology becomes more capable, we increasingly rely on it, but we also have to decide where its role should begin and end," he said.

"The appeal is understandable because AI can significantly improve efficiency and productivity. Tasks that once took hours can often be completed in minutes. At the same time, this expansion raises important questions about privacy, transparency, accountability, environmental costs, and where human judgment should remain central."

What will technology in sport look like in the future?

Sport without this technology is unlikely. Business, recruitment and event management are already finding ways to be more efficient thanks to the introduction of AI and other technologies.

As for VAR, perhaps a different system is required. At the U20 men's football World Cup last year, challenge cards, as seen in the NFL for example, were trialed. Coaches could ask for situations to be reviewed, reducing the interference of constant replays and slow-motion assessments. Reportedly, trialing of the approach, officially called Football Video Support (FVS), continues but it is likely seen as a cheaper alternative to the expensive VAR rather than a replacement.

"The key is to treat technology as decision support rather than decision replacement," Gulavani said. "

AI and technologies like VAR are good at processing large amounts of information quickly and consistently, but they cannot fully understand the context, intent, or nuance that many sporting decisions require. Human referees are still needed to interpret the Laws of the Game and exercise judgment in situations where there is no objectively 'correct' answer."

A return to a previous era seems unlikely, but the challenge is familiar. Can sport find a way to return technology to a supporting role rather than one that governs it to such an extent that it removes human engagement and emotion? If it can, perhaps those ripples will be felt beyond the white lines of sporting arenas.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold