What is VAR and when can it intervene?

VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is one of the biggest changes in football history. But many fans still think VAR can review any incident. That is not the case.

The basic principle

VAR exists to correct clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents. The goal is not a perfect game, but to prevent obvious injustices.

The 4 situations in which VAR can intervene

1. Goals: whether there was a foul, offside or handball in the build-up, or whether the ball went out of play before the goal.
2. Penalties: both to award a penalty that was missed and to cancel one that was wrongly given.
3. Direct red cards: violent conduct or dangerous tackles. A second yellow card is not reviewed.
4. Mistaken identity: when the referee shows a card to the wrong player.

How does a review work?

The VAR team follows the match from a room with multiple camera angles. When they spot a possible error, they tell the referee. From there, there are two options:

• Factual decision (for example offside or the location of a foul): the referee can accept the VAR's advice straight away.
• Subjective decision (for example how serious a foul was): the referee goes to the pitch-side monitor to watch the footage. This is called an On-Field Review.

The final decision always belongs to the on-field referee, not to the VAR.

What VAR cannot review

• Wrongly awarded corners and throw-ins (except where the protocol allows it because they lead directly to a goal).
• Second yellow cards.
• Fouls in midfield that do not lead to a goal, penalty or sending-off.

What about semi-automated offside?

Several top competitions now use semi-automated offside technology, with cameras that track the players' positions. This makes offside decisions faster and shows 3D images to fans in the stadium and on TV.