## 4 Discussion
Although the number of fouls and yellow cards decreased after the introduction of VAR in the Bundesliga and Serie A, these decreases were relatively small [10]. The number of fouls significantly decreased in the Chinese Super League [17], and the number of fouls, yellow cards, and offsides showed a significant decreasing trend in the Brazilian Men's Championship [13]. In contrast to these results, there was no change in the number of fouls and yellow cards in both the Women's World Cup [29] and the Men's World Cup [12]. In the Turkish Super League, the only match performance indicator that increased after the introduction of VAR was the number of penalties. [PERSON] et al. [10] reported that the number of penalties increased in the Bundesliga and decreased in Serie A. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. [12] reported that referees awarded more penalties after the introduction of VAR in the Men's World Cup. At the 2018 World Cup, eight penalties that were not initially awarded by the referees were given after on-field reviews, and one was awarded based on a factual decision by VAR. In addition, three penalty decisions were cancelled following on-field reviews. In contrast, a study in the German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A reported that the introduction of VAR reduced the total number of penalties by more than 25% [14]. After the introduction of VAR in the Champions League, goals and penalties were the most reviewed decisions by referees [19]. Similarly, in the 2019 Brazilian Men's Football Championship, most of the incidents reviewed by VAR were penalties (44.82%) [13]. An analysis of 380 matches in the Brazilian Serie A reported that there were 81 VAR interventions, 44 goals were canceled, 38 penalties were awarded, and 18 goals were disallowed [30]. Given these results, it can be assumed that even if penalty decisions are missed by referees, replaying the decisions in slow motion from different angles [12] facilitates making the correct decision. The purpose of this study was also to investigate the impact of VAR on match performance indicators in subsequent seasons. The findings revealed a significant difference in the number of fouls and offsides across all parameters. The number of fouls last season was significantly lower than the previous three seasons. However, referees awarded more offsides in the fourth season of VAR than in the previous season. Other parameters did not show significant changes. According to the current study, players committed fewer fouls in each season following the implementation of VAR. This can be attributed to the fact that referees can review incorrect decisions using video technology, making players more cautious in their actions. While the findings of this study suggest that VAR has influenced certain match performance indicators, particularly fouls and disciplinary actions, it is important to interpret these results within a broader context. The evolution of the game is shaped by multiple factors, including changes in coaching strategies, regulatory emphasis on player behavior, and even media scrutiny. Therefore, the observed trends may not be attributable to VAR alone. Similar dynamics have been reported in other leagues implementing VAR, such as the Bundesliga and Serie A, although with varying magnitudes and, in some cases, diverging patterns, as highlighted by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [22]. Future research should seek to disentangle these interacting influences through multi-league comparative analyses and mixed-method approaches, including qualitative assessments of referee behavior and team adaptation over time.