VAR, the video assistant referee, divides opinion more than almost anything else in football. It helps to know what it is actually allowed to do. This guide explains the system without the jargon.
What VAR is
A team of officials in a video room watches the match with access to multiple camera angles. They talk to the referee on the pitch by radio and can recommend a review when they think there has been a clear and obvious error.
The four things VAR can check
- Goals, including any offence in the build-up
- Penalty decisions
- Direct red cards
- Mistaken identity when a card is shown to the wrong player
Yellow cards and second yellows are not reviewed.
How a review works
The VAR checks the incident. If it is a factual call, such as offside, the decision is made in the video room. If it is a subjective call, like a foul, the referee may go to the pitch-side monitor and look again before deciding.
Why “clear and obvious” matters
The referee’s original call stands unless the video shows a clear mistake. That is why marginal decisions are often left alone.
Offside technology
Many competitions now use semi-automated offside technology, which tracks player limbs and the ball to speed up decisions. The offside law itself has not changed. See our guide to the offside rule.
Frequently asked questions
Can VAR overturn a decision on its own?
For factual decisions such as offside, the VAR can inform the referee, who then applies the outcome. For subjective ones, the referee makes the final call.
Why do reviews take so long?
Officials check the incident carefully and, for offside, lines have to be drawn at the exact moment of the pass.
