Video replays are being used by referees for the first time at the 2018 FIFA World Cup to help make key decisions. Even though technology has been introduced to the game with the intention of causing as little interruption to the game as possible, it has still attracted criticism for breaking up play. According to website fivethirtyeight, however, VAR is not responsible to long stoppages over all World Cup match time combined.

Up to June 27, free kicks took up an average of 10 minutes and 29 seconds per match, throw-ins lasted just under eight minutes while goal kicks stopped play for just over six minutes. By comparison, video reviews stopped matches for just 31 seconds per match on average.