During a football match the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitors match-changing situations for sabotage. We model the physical intensity exerted by players as continuum where the line of VAR intervention demarcates tolerated physical intensity from sabotage. This study demonstrates that the sabotage incentive of players diminishes if the line of VAR intervention is sufficiently high such that only major violations of the laws of the game are penalized. In contrast, a very low line of VAR intervention encourages players to engage in sabotage. Therefore, we suggest that the VAR only intervenes if major violations occur to enhance the integrity of the competition. Our findings become even more binding in inferior and less popular leagues.