Who rules in times of the Video Assistant Referee? On referees’ decision making in football

Decision-making in high-pressure environments is a complex process influenced by individual characteristics and hierarchical dynamics. In football, the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was intended to improve decision accuracy. However, VAR decisions involve human judgment and interaction between the VAR and the on-field referee. This study analyzes all VAR interventions (N = 515) in the Dutch top football league (2019-2021), examining how age, experience, and status asymmetries between referees influence decision-making. Results show that younger, less experienced, and lower-ranked VARs recommend more interventions and are more likely to have their advice disregarded. Status-authority asymmetry particularly affects subjective calls requiring on-field reviews (ORF). Findings highlight that officiating decisions are shaped by cognitive and social factors, contributing to research on decision-making under uncertainty. The findings contribute not only to sports science, but also more generally to the literature on decision-making by professionals.