2024-07-22 16:13:09
The introduction of VAR in football is controversial around the world. In Norway, a match had to be abandoned on Sunday because of it.
On Sunday evening, a match in the Norwegian premier football league, the Eliteserien, was abandoned. The duel between Rosenborg Trondheim and Lilleström SK had to be called off by the referee after only 30 minutes.
The reason for this is fan protests against video evidence. VAR has been in place in Norway since last year, and there have been critical voices from fans since the beginning – but so far there has not been a game abandoned.
Shortly after kick-off, fans of the home team from Rosenborg threw fish cakes onto the pitch. The referee then sent both teams to the changing rooms. After eight minutes, the referee continued the game, but not for long: just 90 seconds later, pyrotechnics from the away fans flew onto the pitch. The game then restarted, but pyrotechnics and tennis balls flew again – which is why the game was abandoned with the score at 0:0.
“I didn’t see it, but from what I’ve heard, it’s unbelievable and absolutely reprehensible,” said Karl-Petter Lötken, general secretary of the Norwegian Football Association, who was unable to attend the match. The association is now discussing how to proceed, especially how the match will be judged and when it will be replayed.