Football supporters' survey gives overwhelming thumbs-down to VAR use - and Sheffield United fans won't argue

The damning findings will be used as part of the Premier League’s review of the technology, in the hope of improving its use from next season. The use of VAR has been widely criticised since it was implemented in the Premier League at the start of the 2019/20 season, Sheffield United’s first in the top flight in 12 years.

They suffered at its hand – David McGoldrick being robbed of a first Premier League goal away at Spurs when John Lundstram’s toe was adjudged to have been offside, after a long, long check – but also benefitted, with a late equaliser for West Ham at Bramall Lane chalked off after Declan Rice handled the ball in the build-up.

It’s not something they’ll have to contend with next season, after their relegation to the Championship, but VAR looks like it’s here to stay – and so United will encounter it soon enough if they are successful in winning promotion back to the top flight.

Phil Jagielka admits he would have liked to stay at Sheffield United to help them regain Premier League place

Over 33,000 football supporters were consulted by the FSA, who are describing their survey as the largest of its kind.

A whopping 95 per cent of match-going fans said VAR made the experience of watching a game less enjoyable, with 44 per cent saying they would be less likely to attend a game in future because of the technology.

“There is a clear feeling among fans that VAR has ruined the spontaneity of goal celebrations, and taken away a big part of our most enjoyable matchday moments,” said the FSA’s vice-chair Tom Greatrex.