Over the past few weeks, the Well Society invited Motherwell fans to share their views on the use of VAR in Scottish football. This was part of our ongoing commitment to giving supporters a real voice in shaping the future of the game. The response was extraordinary – not just in volume, but in the depth of feeling expressed. It’s clear that this is an issue that cuts right to the core of the matchday experience.
The results are striking. 63% of respondents said they do not support VAR in Scottish football. A near unanimous 99.3% of respondents believe it either needs to be scrapped altogether or fundamentally reformed. The other 0.7% were unsure. In other words, none of the supporters who took part in the survey felt VAR should remain unchanged. Perhaps most telling of all, 60% said VAR has made their experience as a supporter “significantly worse.”
Fans spoke about long delays, a lack of clear communication, inconsistent decisions, and a growing sense of disconnect between those in the stands and those officiating on the pitch. Rather than building trust in decisions, many feel VAR has done the opposite, creating more distance between supporters and the game itself.
Some still see potential for technology to play a role in football, if used in the right way. But the overwhelming feeling from our fanbase is that VAR, as it stands in Scotland, is simply not working. A system designed to bring clarity has, for many, only added more confusion.
“As a fan-owned club, we have a duty to listen,” said David Cullinan, a director of the Well Society. “This wasn’t about grabbing attention. It was about listening to what our supporters really think. And they’ve made it clear that VAR, as things stand, is letting them down. The Society will be taking their views on board and working on a plan of action, which we’ll share with members in due course. This is just the start of a wider discussion, and we’re calling on clubs across Scotland to stand with their supporters and be part of it.”