The video assistant referee (VAR) helps the on-field referee avoid clear mistakes in the biggest decisions. It is not meant to re-referee the whole match.
What VAR can review
VAR can only intervene in four types of match-changing situations:
- Goals, including offences in the build-up such as offside, handball or a foul;
- Penalty decisions, whether awarded or not;
- Direct red cards (not second yellow cards);
- Mistaken identity, when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player.
"Clear and obvious error"
For subjective decisions, such as whether contact was enough for a penalty, VAR should only step in when the referee has made a clear and obvious error or missed a serious incident. Factual decisions, like whether the ball crossed the line or a player was offside, are corrected whenever the replay shows a mistake.
How a review works
- The VAR team in the video room checks every goal, penalty and red-card situation automatically.
- If they see a possible error, they tell the referee through the headset; the referee can delay the restart.
- For factual errors, the referee can accept the VAR's advice directly. For subjective calls, the referee usually goes to the pitch-side monitor for an on-field review.
- The referee always makes the final decision and signals by drawing the shape of a screen.
VAR in African football
VAR became part of the Laws of the Game in 2018 and was used at that year's World Cup. CAF first used it at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, and it is now standard at AFCON finals and the later stages of CAF club competitions. Many domestic African leagues do not yet use VAR because of the cost of cameras and trained officials.
Common misunderstandings
- VAR cannot review yellow cards or most free kicks and corners.
- A "VAR check" happens silently on every goal; a "VAR review" is when the referee watches the monitor.
- Offside lines are drawn from the moment the ball is played, which is why freeze-frames are so important. See the offside rule explained.