The Copa del Rey operates without VAR in its earliest rounds, and this piece explains why that choice exists.
Video assistant refereeing has reshaped modern football, a shift that has touched every corner of the globe. Spain joined this transformation as LaLiga adopted VAR support starting in the 2018/2019 season, marking a turning point in match officiating and decision-making across the top levels of the sport.
No uniform adoption has appeared across all leagues at the same pace. In the Copa del Rey, for the 2023-2024 edition, there is no VAR in the initial rounds. This divergence from other competitions stems from a combination of format changes and practical constraints that affect clubs at different levels.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation, together with its General Assembly, approved a format shift four seasons prior. The competition was redesigned to be played as a single-elimination tournament, featuring clubs from various divisions. The aim was to widen opportunities for smaller teams and create dramatic, knockout-style matches. Yet some participating clubs face logistical and financial hurdles that complicate the installation and maintenance of VAR systems, which has influenced the decision to delay its use in the early stages.
Is VAR used in the Copa del Rey 2023-2024, and when does it come into play?
There is no plan to deploy VAR during the cup’s opening rounds. In earlier seasons, VAR has been employed in later stages, notably the round of 16, a phase where the number of clubs from the top tiers remains high and the decision to use video review tends to be clearer. The lower-tier teams that reach this stage often present more variable infrastructure, which can complicate uniform VAR implementation across all fixtures.
For the 2023-2024 Copa del Rey, the federation has set the policy that VAR will be activated at the quarterfinals, when the field has narrowed to eight teams. At that point, the remaining clubs are typically best positioned to meet the technical requirements of VAR and to ensure consistent officiating standards across the decisive matches.
In summary, the absence of VAR in the early rounds is a deliberate policy aligned with the tournament’s inclusive format and the practical realities faced by several competing clubs. The system is introduced later in the competition to balance fairness with feasibility, while preserving the excitement and unpredictability that make the Copa del Rey distinctive.