AR under scrutiny: former UEFA referee criticises lack of transparency in Rangers vs Panathinaikos match

Champions League qualifying always brings with it intense emotions, pressure, and a fight for every inch of the pitch. The return match between Scotland's Rangers and Greece's Panathinaikos was no exception. Although the Glasgow team ultimately advanced to the next round thanks to a favorable aggregate scoreline, the match itself was marred by considerable controversy – not because of the play, but because of VAR technology.

During one of the match's key moments, a situation occurred that caused confusion both on the pitch and among the thousands of fans gathered in the stadium and watching on television. The assistant referees signaled for offside significantly late, and—worse still—the broadcast failed to show the traditional offside lines, which typically help clarify the decision. A lack of transparency and communication left players on both teams confused about how to interpret the interrupted play.

Former UEFA referee Keith Hackett was not indifferent to the situation. In an official statement to the media, he described the incident as a "serious flaw in the operation of the VAR system" and emphasized that such ambiguities undermine trust in the technology, which was supposed to streamline and facilitate decision-making, not create chaos.

Hackett called on UEFA and the relevant bodies to immediately review and reform the VAR system. He believes that if similar situations continue, the technology will become a source of controversy and frustration instead of help. He also emphasized the need for better communication with fans, who, deprived of visual explanations, often feel confused and frustrated.

Despite the confusion, Rangers can celebrate their promotion, but the shadow of this situation will undoubtedly hang over European competition for a long time. The issue of VAR's reliability is once again at the forefront, and the question "is technology destroying the spirit of football?" seems more relevant than ever.