Why Modern Football Has Become So Messy and How to Fix It

Having watched football evolve over the past two decades, I can’t help but feel the game I fell in love with has become increasingly messy—both on and off the pitch. Just look at the recent controversy involving Strong Group Athletics-Philippines in the Dubai International Basketball Championship. After their semifinal loss to Tunisia, the team openly questioned the officiating and even considered forfeiting the third-place match against the UAE national team. While this example comes from basketball, it mirrors a broader trend in modern football where disputes over refereeing, inconsistent rule enforcement, and emotional outbursts are overshadowing the sport itself.

From my perspective, one of the biggest culprits behind this messiness is the inconsistent application of technology and rules. Take VAR, for example. When it was introduced, many of us hoped it would eliminate refereeing errors. Instead, it’s created a new layer of confusion. I’ve lost count of the number of matches where VAR decisions felt subjective or took far too long—sometimes upwards of three to four minutes—disrupting the flow of the game. Statistics from last season’s Premier League show that VAR interventions led to overturned decisions in roughly 14% of reviewed incidents, yet fan satisfaction with officiating actually dropped by nearly 20%. It’s clear the system isn’t working as intended.

Then there’s the issue of player behavior and the erosion of sportsmanship. I’ve noticed a growing tendency for players to exaggerate contact or aggressively challenge referees, something that was far less tolerated in the past. In top European leagues, yellow cards for dissent have risen by about 12% over the last five years. This isn’t just a numbers game—it reflects a cultural shift where gamesmanship often trumps integrity. The Strong Group Athletics situation is a perfect example: when teams publicly threaten to withdraw over officiating disputes, it undermines the spirit of competition. I believe this stems partly from the immense financial stakes involved. With clubs facing potential losses or gains of millions based on a single result, the pressure to contest every decision has never higher.

So, how do we fix this? First, I’d advocate for simplifying and standardizing the use of technology. Let’s reduce the subjectivity in VAR by limiting its use to clear and obvious errors, as originally intended. We could also introduce time limits for reviews to keep the game moving. Second, football associations must take a stronger stance on discipline. I’d love to see retrospective bans for diving and dissent, even if the incidents were missed during the match. Finally, fostering a culture of respect—perhaps through mandatory workshops for players and coaches—could help restore balance. I know some traditionalists might argue against these changes, but if we want to preserve the beauty of football, we need to act now. After all, the goal should be to let the game—not the controversies—take center stage.