Why no VAR in FC 26?
VAR is a huge part of football today, so it feels odd that a game aiming for realism still doesn’t include it. I get the argument that “the game doesn’t make mistakes,” but then why do goalkeepers m...
Forum Discussion
You’re absolutely right – VAR is a big part of football today, and just “auto-triggering” it in-game would feel flat and take away the drama.
Here’s my take:
Introduce a Referee Career Mode, similar to Player Career, where real players can take on the role of referees and actually officiate matches – including in Ultimate Team and Pro Clubs.
That way, VAR wouldn’t just be an automated cutscene – it would be a human-driven decision. The referee (a real player) would choose when to review incidents, making VAR feel dynamic and unpredictable, just like real football.
Key Benefits:
Fresh Experience: Adds an entirely new way to play, beyond just being a player or manager.
Realism: Human refs bring authentic decision-making (and occasional mistakes), adding drama.
Progression: Refs could be ranked and rewarded based on fair calls and good performance.
Strategic VAR: Teams could request reviews, but refs decide – creating tension and excitement.
Potential Challenges & Solutions:
Biased Calls? → Use a player rating system. Low-rated refs get demoted, top-rated refs get high-stakes matches.
Slow Gameplay? → Limit VAR checks to 15 seconds and max 3 uses per match.
Low Participation? → Offer rewards (coins, packs, cosmetics) to encourage players to try refereeing. This way, VAR isn’t just “press X to watch replay” – it becomes part of the gameplay, a skill-based feature that can change the course of a match.
