VAR, or Video Assistant Referee, is a football officiating technology designed to enhance decision accuracy in critical match situations. Implemented globally,...
VAR, or Video Assistant Referee, is a football officiating system using video replays and a dedicated team of officials to assist the on-field referee in reviewing critical match decisions.
VAR typically reviews four categories: goals (and infringements leading to a goal), penalty incidents, direct red card incidents, and cases of mistaken identity.
A VAR team monitors the match and alerts the referee to clear and obvious errors. The referee can then either accept the advice or conduct a pitch-side review (OFR) of the incident.
VAR's controversies stem from its impact on game flow, the subjectivity of decisions, consistency of application across matches, and the time taken for reviews, often leading to fan frustration.