How does video assistant referee improve the game?
Find out how VAR will be used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ here.
When is VAR used?
Three main incidents (plus one administrative) have been identified as game-changing.
Goals:
The role of the VAR is to assist the referee to determine whether there was an infringement that means a goal should not be awarded. As the ball has crossed the line, play is interrupted so there is no direct impact on the game.
Penalty Decisions
The role of the VAR is to ensure that no clearly wrong decisions are made in conjunction with the award or non-award of a penalty kick.
Direct red card incidents
The role of the VAR is to ensure that no clearly wrong decisions are made in conjunction with sending off or not sending off a player.
Mistaken identity
The referee cautions or sends off the wrong player, or is unsure which player should be sanctioned. The VAR will inform the referee so that the correct player can be disciplined.
How does VAR work?
STEP 1
Incident occurs
The referee informs the VAR, or the VAR recommends to the referee that a decision/incident should be reviewed.
STEP 2
Review and advice by the VAR
The video footage is reviewed by the VAR, who advises the referee via headset what the video shows.
STEP 3
Decision or action is taken
The referee decides to review the video footage on the side of the field of play before taking the appropriate action/decision, or the referee accepts the information from the VAR and takes the appropriate action/decision.
More
FIFA Quality Programme for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Technology
The use of video assistant referees (VARs) in football was included in the Laws of the Game in the 2018/2019 edition. FIFA has now launched the FIFA Quality Programme for VAR Technology, which assesses the technological aspects of VAR systems.