Dartfish’s VAR System Improves Officiating at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship

The Growing Role of Video Replay in Handball

As professional sports continue to evolve, the need for precise officiating has never been greater. The 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, held across Croatia, Denmark and Norway, marked a significant leap in the history of Dartfish VAR with the introduction of the Dartfish VAR System as the video replay system for the men’s world championship for the first time, following its implementation at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship. As a technology partner of the International Handball Federation (IHF), Dartfish brought its expertise in video replay and sports-officiating technology to ensure fair play and accurate decision-making.

Dartfish Video Replay used in the Men's Wold Handball Championship

The Importance of Video Replay in Modern Handball

Handball is a dynamic sport where split-second decisions can determine the outcome of a game. With the stakes higher than ever in international competitions, referees require cutting-edge tools to make informed calls. The integration of the Dartfish VAR System at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship demonstrates the increasing reliance on video replay systems to assist officiating teams in reviewing key game incidents. This advancement ensures the following:

Improved fairness by reducing human error
Increased transparency for teams, officials, and spectators
Streamlined decision-making to maintain the flow of the game

How the Dartfish VAR System Works in Handball

The Dartfish VAR System is a state-of-the-art video replay technology designed to provide referees with high-definition, multi-angle footage for reviewing contentious calls. The system operates seamlessly within the game environment by performing the following:

Capturing Multiple Angles: High-speed cameras placed strategically around the court provide comprehensive coverage of the action.

Instant Video Analysis: Referees can access slow-motion replays and frame-by-frame analysis to review incidents in real-time.

Efficient Communication: Unlike other VAR-like sports, there is no dedicated video referee. Instead, a Video Replay Operator—who is not a referee—shows the footage to the two on-field referees, who make the final decision.

Fairness and Transparency: The images reviewed by the referees are sent live to the host broadcaster and can be seen by all spectators on TV.

Modular System: Up to 15 cameras are used, including a combination of broadcast cameras and Dartfish custom built cameras for key areas such as goal lines and substitution zones.

Dartfish VAR System – More Than an In-Game Video Review System

In the case of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, after each game, footage from the Dartfish VAR System was used by referee supervisors to evaluate referee performance. This post-match analysis provided valuable insights into key decisions, allowing the supervisors to assess accuracy and consistency. By reviewing the multiangle clips generated by the Dartfish VAR System, supervisors could identify areas for improvement and provide targeted training, ensuring that referees maintained the highest standards of officiating throughout the tournament. This process contributes to the continuous development of referees, improving their skills and decision-making abilities for future matches.

One of the standout aspects of the implementation of the Dartfish VAR System at the championship was the efficiency of the video review process. The average time spent on a video replay call—from the decision to review an incident to the announcement of the outcome—was just 52 seconds. This rapid decision-making helped maintain the rhythm of the games while ensuring accuracy.

Key Moments Where the Dartfish’s VAR Made a Difference

Throughout the championship, several game-changing moments showcased the impact of video replay technology on handball officiating. A prime example was the last-second VR call made at the France–Egypt quarterfinal. France qualified by scoring the winning goal just 0.3 seconds before the end of the game. Goal-line technology confirmed the legitimacy of the last-second goal and ensured that the correct decision was made.