VAR (Video Assistant Referee)

VAR can only intervene for clear and obvious errors in four specific categories: goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity. It does not review every decision.

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 in four categories only: goal or no goal, penalty or no penalty, red card or no red card, and mistaken identity in disciplinary situations. The on-field referee always makes the final decision — VAR advises. The standard is 'clear and obvious error', meaning 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 a review.

Key points

✓Only four reviewable categories: goals, penalties, red cards, mistaken identity
✓Standard is clear and obvious error — not just any disagreement
✓On-field referee always makes the final call
✓Marginal offside decisions are checked but must be clear to overturn
✓VAR cannot review yellow cards except for mistaken identity

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.

Scenario 2

Close offside before a goal

Goal

A goal is scored. VAR checks for offside and the lines show the attacker's armpit is marginally past the defender.

Correct call: Goal stands. The armpit is not a body part that can score, so it is not used in the offside calculation.

Common mistake: Disallowing the goal based on the armpit being past the line. Only scoreable body parts count.

Scenario 3

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.