<![CDATA[This descriptive survey and scale-development study examined the challenges of implementing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system from the perspective of referees officiating in the Iraqi Professional Football League in the Middle Euphrates region. The study population comprised 45 league referees, all of whom were included in the main sample. A 14-item questionnaire was developed after reviewing relevant literature and consulting seven experts. The instrument used a three-point Likert response scale (Strongly Agree = 3, Moderately Agree = 2, Slightly Agree = 1). A pilot study involving 10 referees was conducted before the main administration, and the scale demonstrated satisfactory split-half reliability (Guttman coefficient = 0.83). Results showed that insufficient camera coverage of viewing angles was the highest-ranked challenge (weighted mean = 2.22; 74.07%), followed by inadequate camera quality and resolution (2.18; 72.59%) and difficulty identifying the exact moment the ball is played in offside situations (2.16; 71.85%). Complete VAR system failure during matches was the lowest-ranked item (1.67; 55.56%). The findings indicate that the main implementation barriers are concentrated in camera infrastructure, offside-decision support, video quality, and communication reliability. The study recommends improving stadium technology, strengthening referee education in VAR procedures, and conducting broader studies across different refereeing levels.]]>
