Galaxy Digital CEO Criticizes World Cup VAR for Detracting from Viewing Experience
Mike Novogratz stated that VAR is severely damaging the World Cup viewing experience, suggesting that if AI referees were to analyze every second of the game in real-time, it would lead to constant foul calls and yellow cards.
He believes that either a complete AI takeover would ruin the game, or the selective use of technology as it is now leads half of the fans to suspect foul play, urging to "turn off the machines and let the players play!"
From a market perspective, sports fans are the main audience, and the traditional football experience benefits from reduced interference, with funding shifting towards pure viewing and live emotional value, putting short-term pressure on technology-assisted tools.
Source: Public Information
ABAB AI Insight
Mike Novogratz, as a crypto and macro investor, has long focused on sports and culture, previously commenting on current events on social media. His criticism of VAR continues his view that excessive technological intervention undermines human experience.
In terms of capital pathways, Novogratz influences public discussion through his public statements, directing resources towards maintaining the value of traditional sports IP, motivated by the desire to protect football as a core emotional and community vehicle, avoiding excessive AI intervention that dilutes the enjoyment of watching games.
Similar historical controversies over changes in sports rules and the early application of AI in refereeing indicate that the current World Cup is in a transitional phase balancing technological assistance and traditional rules.
Essentially, this is a limitation of technological substitution: while AI referees can enhance accuracy, they disrupt the flow of the game and human unpredictability, restructuring the sports experience from pure competition to technology-assisted formats, while highlighting the detrimental effects of excessive intervention on fans' emotional value.
ABAB News · Cognitive Law
- The more precise the technology, the easier it is for human passion to fade.
- A perfect referee may destroy the imperfect charm of football.
- Turn off the machines and let emotions and surprises dominate the field.