Football fans in Norway are furious—not just at VAR for sucking the joy out of the game, but at what they see as manipulative tactics by the Norwegian FA to silence opposition.
Vålerenga’s return to Norway’s top flight should have been a celebration. Instead, as the 2025 season kicked off at Intility Arena, something was off. Østblokka—the gathering point for the club's most boisterous fans—was silent, empty, and defiant.
Thousands of fans remained outside, refusing to enter until the 15-minute mark in a coordinated protest against one thing: video assistant referees, or VAR.
Although I wasn’t at that particular game, as a regular Vålerenga fan I felt the message loud and clear through the TV coverage.
It wasn’t just Oslo. Across the country, fans from all 16 top-flight clubs—and many from the division below—coordinated similar protests. Some walked out after kick-off. Others sat in silence.
From chants and banners to fishcakes and flares, Norwegian football fans are taking an unusually loud stand against VAR. And it’s not just about technology. It’s about trust, democracy, and who really controls the game.
Norway's Anti-VAR Movement
It started last season with fishcakes, tennis balls and smoke bombs hurled onto pitches.
This year, fans have opted for a more disciplined but no less passionate form of protest: silence, walkouts, and banners like Nei til VAR (“No to VAR”) and Forsvar medlemsdemokratiet (“Defend member democracy”).
Supporters clubs from all 16 Eliteserien clubs—and many from the division below—are united in their opposition to the video assistant referee system.
Unlike many countries where football clubs are private businesses, Norwegian clubs are member-run. So when fans feel like their voices aren’t being heard, it cuts deeper.
And that’s really the heart of the matter. This isn’t just about a few marginal offside calls or delays to celebrating goals. It’s about how the technology was introduced, and how attempts to remove it have been blocked.
A Democratic Farce?
In January, clubs in Norway's top two divisions voted 19–13 in favour of scrapping VAR as soon as possible. It felt like a watershed moment, but the Norwegian FA were quick to take alternative action.
The majority decision of the clubs that VAR actually impacts was ultimately overruled in a national vote of all 450 member clubs, many of which will never play a match involving VAR. The result? 321 to 129 in favour of keeping it.
Somewhat incredibly, Lise Klaveness, president of the NFF, says the process has been “transparent and democratic”—and that referees overwhelmingly support keeping the technology.
Critics say this was a tactical move by the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) to dilute the influence of elite clubs and their members. For many fans, it was a total stitch-up.
What’s So Bad About VAR?
Let’s face it—VAR hasn’t exactly improved the experience of watching football. It’s slow. It’s inconsistent. And worst of all, it kills the joy of celebrating a goal in the moment.
It’s not just fans who feel it. Players and coaches have spoken out, too — albeit more cautiously. Some are in favour. Others say they understand the supporters’ frustrations.
As a Vålerenga supporter, I want to enjoy football again. I want to celebrate a goal without checking the screen first. It has sucked all the joy out of football.
Is There Still Hope?
Not all Norwegian fans are anti-VAR. A few clubs, like Fredrikstad and Bodø/Glimt, have openly supported the technology. Their argument is that VAR, while flawed, helps get big decisions right and protects referees from abuse.
But the protests aren’t going away. New actions are planned throughout the season. For many, this has become about more than football. It’s about who really controls the game in Norway—the members, or the federation.
VAR might not be going away anytime soon, but neither are the protests. Whether it’s silence, sarcasm, or fishcakes, Norwegian football fans are making themselves heard—even when they’re quiet.
