6–10 Jun 2022
Tübingen
Europe/Berlin timezone

The impact of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) on gender equity in elite football refereeing

9 Jun 2022, 09:40
20m

Speaker

Sigbjørn Skirbekk

Description

Abstract: The prevalence of gender equity and equality issues in football refereeing is well-known. The ongoing implementation of VAR impacts the refereeing role. However, it is unclear how the implementation of VAR affects gender equity in refereeing, especially women football referees’ opportunities and career possibilities.

Objective: To (1) summarize and map the existing research literature in the field of refereeing, gender and VAR in football and (2) identify and analyse knowledge gaps in the field and (3) propose recommendations for practice and future research.

Methods: Scoping review using three databases: SportsDiscus, Scopus and ISI Web of Knowledge. The search strings consisted of 3 combinations of key and mesh terms - 1: “football referee gender”, 2: “football referee VAR”, 3: “football referee technology gender”

Findings: Research on referees, gender and VAR focuses on two themes: 1) female referees’ individual experiences of the refereeing role in a male dominated profession, and 2) quantitative mapping of the difference in hit rate (correct decisions), time spent making decisions and number of decisions made, before and after VAR.

Discussion: These studies are exclusively done in male football, showing the need for studies focusing on female referees and women’s football. There is shortage in studies on how organizations work with gender equity when implementing technologies (e.g. VAR).

Conclusion: At the ISSA conference I will elaborate the detailed findings and show the need for research focusing on the gendering of the football refereeing role and the implementation of VAR, and how this affects female referees’ career possibilities.

Primary author

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