Special research reveals a striking difference between PSV and Ajax fans

While PSV fans have already been busy planning their vacations, looking ahead to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and looking forward to another season of Champions League football, an Ajax fan is especially looking for a European season in the Conference League.

The differences are clear but there are more striking differences. At least, that is what emerges from an analysis by sports data bureau Opta and market research firm Sapio Research. Commissioned by Snickers, this research focuses in particular on reactions to VAR decisions.

What turns out is that, above all, Ajax fans often fail to handle things well during a video referee check. Supporters of PSV, on the other hand, remain the most calm, despite the fact that in recent years PSV has actually been the team most often affected by VAR interventions. That may be called striking.

For the study, all VAR incidents in the Eredivisie from the introduction in the 2017/18 season up to and including 2024/25 were analyzed. The figures for the current season will be added to the analysis later this month. In addition, 2,000 Dutch football fans were surveyed about their experience of VAR moments. From these questions among the 2,000 fans, still a representative number, it emerges that supporters consistently estimate waiting times to be much longer than they actually are.

Ajax supporters see and experience this as significantly different from the average PSV fan. According to the figures, an average VAR check in the Johan Cruijff ArenA takes about one minute, but fans experience it as if it lasts more than three and a half minutes. Feyenoord supporters, also among the 2,000 football fans, estimate the waiting time as being much higher than it actually is. The PSV fans, at least that part of the 2,000 respondents, experience it with more calm and perhaps with more confidence and belief.

The research shows that waiting for a VAR decision is the most frustrating moment of a match for many supporters, but you really don’t need a study for that.

Ajax fans experience the greatest “emotional delay”. Where a review takes an average of one minute, supporters estimate that minimum time block at 3.51 minutes. Feyenoord supporters experience a VAR check averaging 1.05 minutes as if it takes 3.48 minutes. That means an overestimation by a factor of 3.32, hereby recorded.

And the PSV fans, where there is the most calm and confidence in a good outcome and rightly so. A check with an average of 0.95 minute feels there like 2.9 minutes, a factor of 3.07. Since the introduction of VAR, PSV in particular has had the most incidents. 46 in total, good for almost half a football match of 43 minutes of interruptions. In short, the Philips Stadium appears to have more confidence in a good outcome of the match during home games than the Johan Cruijff Arena and De Kuip.