Constructing a Scale for the Perceived Justice of VAR Technology among Football Referees

Football has developed significantly in recent years, and one of the most prominent developments has been the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. This development is important for improving refereeing performance and helping referees understand the dimensions of perceived justice. The study aimed to identify perceived justice regarding VAR technology among football referees. The researchers used a descriptive method in its survey design due to its suitability for the nature of the research. The research population consisted of referees in the Iraqi Stars Football League during the 2025–2026 sports season, totaling 85 referees. The research sample also consisted of 85 referees, representing 100% of the research population. The research sample was divided into two sub-samples: a construction sample and an application sample. The construction sample consisted of 60 referees, accounting for approximately 71% of the research population, and was selected purposively from referees in the Iraqi Stars Football League. The researchers used a questionnaire as a data collection tool. To construct the perceived justice scale, and based on organizational justice theory, the researchers followed the scientific procedures for scale construction. They identified the domains of the perceived justice scale and presented them to experts. The scale consisted of three dimensions: distributive justice, procedural justice, and interactional justice. The researchers then examined the validity of the scale items. Following the statistical analysis of the items, the perceived justice scale for referees in the Iraqi Stars Football League was finalized, consisting of 30 items.