The special exhibition “Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch” explores how technological developments have enhanced the way we perceive football - without changing the sport itself. Football remains what it has always been: emotional, passionate, and grounded in the same rules and values.

Nowadays, it has become commonplace to hold your breath when the referee puts their hand to their ear to listen to recommendations from the video assistant referee, or when they go to the touchline screen to review an incident in the penalty area. Yet ten years ago, reviewing decisions with the help of television images would have been unthinkable. The game played on the pitch is still the same today. However, technology now serves as a valuable support to match officials.

VAR was used to review a play in the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018. France made their debut against Australia in Group C, and after nearly an hour of play with little action in either area, Antoine Griezmann was brought down in the box.

The Uruguayan referee, Andrés Cunha, initially allowed play to continue, but after a few seconds, he stopped the match and went to the sideline. After consulting the VAR screen, the referee drew an unprecedented square in the air with his hands and pointed to the penalty spot - the video had made it clear to him that Australian player Josh Risdon had fouled the French striker in the penalty area.

In our special exhibition, 'Innovation in Action', we have a shirt prepared for Griezmann during that FIFA World Cup 2018. It symbolises the first time a referee's decision was reviewed and changed thanks to VAR intervention at a FIFA World Cup.

However, FIFA had already begun testing this system several years earlier. It was first used in an international friendly between Italy and France in September 2016, and a few months later, referees officiated matches at the Club World Cup in Japan with the support of VAR.

VAR is one of the most visible technological tools in football’s long history. In the FIFA Museum’s exhibition, it plays a central role. Visitors can retrace the journey toward its approval and even take a seat in the VAR room to analyse controversial situations themselves. It becomes clear: technology supports the match officials, but it does not change the core of the game.

The special exhibition ‘Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch’ at the FIFA Museum in Zurich is open until 31 March 2026.