What is VAR?
VAR stands for Video Assistant Referee. It's a team of match officials sitting in a video operations room, watching multiple camera angles of the game live. Their job is to help the on-field referee correct clear and obvious errors on four specific types of decisions.
The four reviewable decisions
- Goals — including any offside, foul, handball or ball-out-of-play in the attacking phase.
- Penalty decisions — whether a penalty was correctly awarded or wrongly denied.
- Direct red cards — not second yellows.
- Mistaken identity — when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player.
How a VAR check works
After every reviewable incident, VAR silently checks the footage. If they spot a clear and obvious error, they recommend an on-field review. The referee walks to the pitch-side monitor, watches the replay, and either changes the decision or sticks with it. If VAR finds no clear error, play continues without interruption.
When was VAR introduced?
VAR was added to the Laws of the Game in March 2018 by IFAB. The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia was the first World Cup to use it. Since then it's been adopted by the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, MLS and every major continental competition.
Common criticisms
VAR is often criticised for slowing the game down, taking away spontaneous goal celebrations, and inconsistent interpretations of handball and offside. Supporters argue it has significantly reduced game-changing refereeing errors — especially on offside goals and missed penalties.