Exclusive: EFL Championship backed to introduce VAR | OneFootball

VAR has been a hot topic of discussion ever since its inception

Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert Lee Hendrie has weighed in on the debate of whether VAR should be introduced into the EFL Championship as it continues to generate plenty of discourse.

The technology-based assistance has caused plenty of controversy ever since its inception back in the late 2010s, with the concept initially born out of a project dubbed 'Refereeing 2.0' by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) back a few short years beforehand.

Its maiden usage came during an international friendly between Italy and France back in September 2016, and has since become commonplace in several of Europe's high-profile leagues after coming to prominance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

VAR - or Video Assistant Referee to give its full title - was first introduced in the English game back in the 2017/18 campaign during an 'M23 derby' game between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round, before being fully utilised across all 20 Premier League stadiums since the beginning of the 2019/20 campaign after clubs unanimously voted for its usage across the 38-game season.

Whilst the top-flight has since developed a reputation for losing some of its excitement, in many ways down to several controversial calls by VAR among other factors, the Championship has remained as thrilling as ever, with this season looking extremely wide-open in terms of the potential promotion, play-off and relegation pictures.

All of its 24 clubs are required to install a 'Goal Decision System' at the beginning of the campaign, much like their top-flight counterparts. However, with VAR only being used in encounters such as the play-off final, it begs the question as to whether it would benefit the Championship to utilise further technology across the regular 46-game term.

Lee Hendrie weighs in on Championship, VAR debate

Many managers have expressed whether they think the introduction of VAR would massively assist those in the middle of the pulsating encounters the second tier throws up.

Last season, the EFL admitted to weighing up all potential options, with the organisation only introducing the video assistant referee in the EFL Cup from the semi-final stage and during play-off finals, whilst also stating that a lower-cost system could be introduced in League One and League Two.

It has been in use in Championship play-off finals since 2021/22, with notable moments including the decision to not award Huddersfield Town a second-half penalty in their Wembley defeat to Nottingham Forest, whilst Harrison Burrows saw his first-half goal - that would've made it 2-0 to Sheffield United - ruled out back in May in their eventual defeat to Sunderland.

With Blackburn Rovers boss, Valerien Ismael, recently stating that VAR is a potential "solution" to contentious refereeing calls after his side saw appeals for a penalty waved away against Swansea City as Todd Cantwell fell under the challenge of Cameron Burgess, Hendrie also believes it would be logical to see it introduced.

"I think you look at the Premier League and the Championship. The Championship is just as important for me," the ex-Aston Villa midfielder exclusively told Football League World.

"I think the reason why they should have VAR (in the Championship) is because we know how much it means for football clubs to get promoted to the Premier League - not just as a football club, but because of the finances that come with it.

"I think, eventually, they will have VAR. I don't see how they can't," Hendrie claimed. "It's one of the most striving leagues around at the moment when you compare it to top, top divisions. I think it will be a matter of time.

"Obviously, cost-wise, it's an awful lot to fund. But, I think if you've got it in the Premier League, you should have it in the Championship."

Supporters of Championship clubs have made their feelings known towards potential VAR introduction

Hendrie, unsurprisingly, referenced the potential limitations of a VAR introduction in the EFL due to costs. It was stated via the 2019/20 FA Cup rulebook that VAR was implemented at a cost of £9,251+ VAT, which, in line with current inflation measures, is now a figure of £11,955 per match.

With plenty of refereeing decisions in the Championship recently coming under scrutiny, the debate of VAR inclusion has only hotted up further. However, it seems like the majority of supporters are still opposed to the idea, particularly when a decision being viewed on a monitor has taken up to eight minutes during an FA Cup tie between AFC Bournemouth and Wolves in March 2025.

However, with the EFL desperate to increase the Championship's global reputation, they may see it as a positive step forward, although it could have significant implications on the experience of regular match-going supporters.