VAR has become increasingly relevant in recent years, with the use of technology to help referee matches generating great controversy among players, coaches and fans.
However, despite his reputation for causing trouble, he will continue for the foreseeable future at the highest level in both club and international matches.
The Premier League will keep VAR in place for the 2024/25 campaign after a vote in which 19 of England’s 20 top-flight clubs opted to keep it. Here is proof that, despite numerous complaints about its use, most clubs consider the game to be in a better place since its introduction.
As part of a FIFA-backed technological expansion, VAR is also a feature in national team competitions, supporting match officials at World Cups, European Championships and other tournaments.
But what does VAR mean? How does it work? Let us explain.
What does VAR mean?
VAR means Video Assistant Referee. The title refers to the designated match official who helps the on-field referee make correct decisions by using video replays to review incidents.
Video assistant referees work alongside the on-field officiating team to assist with a range of decisions during the game. Most top-level matches involve three VARs: two main referees and one VAR assistant.
The two main VARs share responsibility for monitoring the main match camera for general infringements, with the other handling offside calls. The VAR assistant covers the replays and is in charge of communication between the referees.
What decisions does VAR help with?
VAR does not intervene in all referee decisions, but video referees only intervene in the following key incidents:
- Target/non-target
- Penalty/non-penalty
- Direct red card (no second yellow or warning)
- Case of mistaken identity (when the referee sends off the wrong player)
VAR is also used to check offside violations when goals are scored. However, the introduction of semi-automatic offside technology means that VARs are becoming less necessary for these types of incidents.
How does VAR decide goals?
The VAR may advise the on-field referee to change his decision to award or disallow a goal if a video review suggests that is the correct course of action.
For example, if a player puts the ball into the net and the referee awards a goal, but a VAR check shows that the same players committed an offence by handling the ball in the build-up to the goal, the VAR team can either inform the referee directly to disallow the goal or to check the incident themselves using the pitchside monitor. In that situation, the on-field referee has the final say.
How does VAR decide offsides?
VAR officials will check the replays and ‘draw lines’ on the replayed footage to alert the main referee of an offside decision if that incident leads to a goal. These incidents are often the ones that cause the most consternation among fans, given the time it takes to build the necessary image of the game to be able to advise on the decision.
However, this is now becoming less common. Semi-automatic offside technology has been incorporated to assist with the process and will be used in the 2024/25 Premier League season to help make decisions faster.
The technology uses more than 20 cameras installed on the ground to triangulate the position of each player throughout the game and can therefore make very accurate offside decisions quickly to continue the match without many interruptions.
How does VAR decide penalties and red cards?
The VAR can intervene when assessing a penalty. Video referees can review footage of an incident and then advise the on-field referee if a mistake has been made.
For example, if a referee awards a penalty for an alleged foul in the penalty area and replays show that there was, in fact, no contact between the opposing team’s players, the VAR can recommend that the referee review the incident on the pitchside monitor and possibly change his decision. Again, the on-field referee retains the final decision – in other words, he is not obliged to change his mind simply because the VAR tells him to.
VAR reviews also follow a similar process in the case of red cards to alert referees if an incident needs to be reviewed and a red card awarded or a red card downgraded to a yellow. This can be due to reasons such as an incorrect decision, serious foul play or mistaken identity.