VAR (Video Assistant Referee)

VAR can only intervene for a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident, and only within five defined categories: goal, penalty, red card, mistaken identity, and a clearly incorrectly awarded corner kick. The fifth is new for 2026/27 and is a competition option, so it is not available everywhere.^1, ^2, ^3, ^4, ^5, ⁶

Key points

✓Five reviewable categories: goal, penalty, red card, mistaken identity, and an incorrectly awarded corner kick^1, ^2, ^3, ^4, ^5, ⁶
✓The corner kick category is a competition option, so not every competition allows it^1, ⁶
✓A corner review must be possible immediately and without delaying the restart, so a quickly taken corner cannot be changed^1, ⁶
✓The red card category includes a red card produced by a clearly incorrect second caution^1, ^4, ^14, ¹⁶
✓Mistaken identity covers the wrong player of either team, and only the identity is reviewed, never the offence itself^1, ^5, ¹⁷
✓Standard is clear and obvious error, not just any disagreement^1, ^11, ¹³
✓On-field referee always makes the final call^12, ^18, ¹⁹
✓After play has restarted, only mistaken identity and certain sending-off offences remain reviewable⁷

Read the full rule

Scenarios

Scenario 1

Referee awards penalty, VAR checks

No penalty

The referee awards a penalty. VAR reviews the incident and finds minimal contact that was clearly exaggerated.

Correct call: VAR recommends an on-field review. Referee overturns the penalty and books the attacker for simulation.

Common mistake: Assuming VAR will always confirm the on-field decision. VAR can and should overturn clear errors even when the referee was certain.

Law^1, ^3, ^9, ^10, ^12, ²⁴

Scenario 2

Close offside before a goal

Goal

A goal is scored. VAR checks for offside and the lines show the attacker's arm is past the defender, but the bottom of their armpit is level with them.

Correct call: Goal stands. Hands and arms are not considered for offside, and for this purpose the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. Only what is beyond that boundary counts, and here nothing is.

Common mistake: Disallowing the goal because the arm is past the defender. The arm is excluded entirely, and the bottom of the armpit is where the measurement starts.

Law^1, ^2, ⁸

Scenario 3

Second yellow card was clearly wrong

No card

A player is shown a second yellow and sent off, but replays show the challenge was clearly fair and the caution should never have been given.

Correct call: Reviewable. Since 2026/27 a red card resulting from a clearly incorrect second caution falls inside the red card category, so the sending-off can be rescinded.

Common mistake: Treating every second yellow as unreviewable. That was the position before 2026/27, but a red card produced by a clearly wrong second caution is now in scope.

Law^1, ^4, ^14, ¹⁶

Scenario 4

Referee misses red card incident

Foul

While the referee's attention is elsewhere, a player elbows an opponent off the ball. VAR spots it.

Correct call: VAR flags the incident as a serious missed incident. Referee reviews and shows a red card for violent conduct.

Common mistake: Assuming that because the referee did not see it, nothing can be done. VAR covers missed incidents in the red card category.

Law^1, ^4, ^14, ^15, ²⁰

The full rule

VAR is not a tool to review every refereeing decision. It exists to correct clear and obvious errors and serious missed incidents, and only within five categories: goal or no goal, penalty or no penalty, red card, mistaken identity, and a clearly incorrectly awarded corner kick. The count moved from four to five for 2026/27, when the corner kick category was added. Two of the existing categories were also widened that year. The red card category now covers a red card resulting from a clearly incorrect second caution, so a second yellow can be reviewed where it produced a sending-off. Mistaken identity now covers the referee carding the wrong player of either team rather than only the offending team, and in that category only the identity of the offender can be reviewed, never the offence itself. The corner kick category is different in kind from the other four: it is a competition option rather than a universal rule, and it applies only where the decision can be changed immediately and without delaying the restart. If the corner is taken quickly, the decision cannot be changed. It also runs one way, covering a corner that was clearly incorrectly awarded, not a corner that should have been given and was missed. The on-field referee always makes the final decision, VAR advises. The standard is a clear and obvious error, so a marginal call that could go either way is not overturned. The referee can be invited to review footage at the pitchside monitor, or VAR can provide information directly without an on-field review. Once play has stopped and restarted, the only things still reviewable are mistaken identity and a potential sending-off for violent conduct, spitting, biting, or extremely offensive, insulting or abusive action.^1, ^2, ^3, ^4, ^5, ^6, ^7, ^11, ^12, ^14, ^16, ^17, ^21, ^22, ²³