VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is a match official with independent access to replay footage who assists the on-field referee. VAR may assist only when there is a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident within a reviewable category; the on-field referee always makes the final decision.
Under The IFAB’s 2026/27 VAR protocol, the framework has four categories that apply generally and a fifth category for a clearly wrongly awarded corner kick when the competition chooses that option. This article explains when the referee checks VAR, how a review works and why not every disputed play is reviewed. For the wider rule map before focusing on VAR, see football rules for beginners.
What is VAR?
VAR stands for Video Assistant Referee. It is a match official who works with replay footage from the video operation room and the match officials’ communication system. The VAR’s role is to check incidents that may change the match and provide information to the on-field referee when the intervention threshold is met.
VAR is not a second referee with independent power to overturn a decision. The VAR can communicate that the footage may show a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident, but only the referee can initiate a formal review and make the final decision.
How is VAR different from the on-field referee?
- The referee must make an initial decision, including a decision to allow play to continue after an alleged offence.
- The VAR automatically checks incidents within the permitted scope; a check does not necessarily become a formal review.
- The VAR may recommend a review but cannot start it independently or change the decision.
- Players and team officials must not request a VAR review or pressure the referee.
- The referee ultimately keeps, changes or rescinds the decision using information from the VAR and, when needed, footage viewed at the referee review area.
When does the referee check VAR?
VAR is used only when an incident belongs to a reviewable group and there is a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident. A controversial moment, another camera angle or a feeling that a different call might be better is not enough to start a review.
Four generally applicable categories and one competition option
| Incident group | Examples that may be checked | Limit to explain |
|---|---|---|
| Goal/no goal | An attacking offence in the phase leading to a goal, offside or the ball out of play before the goal, the goal/no-goal decision itself; certain goalkeeper or kicker offences at a penalty kick may also be checked in a goal context | The review concerns the directly relevant attacking phase, not the whole match |
| Penalty/no penalty | An offence or offside in the build-up, the ball out of play before the incident, the location of the offence inside or outside the penalty area, a penalty awarded incorrectly or not awarded when required | Not every contact in the penalty area automatically becomes a penalty |
| Red card | Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO), serious foul play, violent conduct, biting, spitting or offensive/insulting/abusive actions; under the 2026/27 update, a clearly incorrect second caution that results in a red card is also included | VAR does not review every yellow card; a missed possible second-yellow offence alone does not allow intervention |
| Mistaken identity | The referee cautions or sends off the wrong player from either team for the offence | Usually only the offender’s identity is reviewed; the offence itself is reviewed only when it also relates to a goal, penalty or red-card incident |
| Clearly wrongly awarded corner kick — competition option | A corner kick is clearly awarded incorrectly and can be corrected immediately | The competition must choose the option and the correction must not delay the restart; a corner taken quickly cannot be changed |
The first four rows are the generally applicable categories in the VAR framework. The corner row is a fifth category that depends on the competition; it is not used in every match. When a goal review involves offside, separate the offside law from the video procedure with the plain-language offside explainer. For a penalty-kick incident, readers can continue with penalty kick and penalty shoot-out.
What is a clear and obvious error?
A clear and obvious error is a mistake that the replay shows clearly. It is not simply a decision that another referee might judge differently. The original decision should not change merely because people disagree; the video must clearly show an error within a permitted reviewable category.
For example, if the referee awards a penalty but the replay clearly shows that the offence happened outside the penalty area, the VAR can provide information about the location. The referee still decides whether the call should change.
What is a serious missed incident?
A serious missed incident is a serious incident that the on-field officials did not see or for which they made no initial decision. It does not turn VAR into a tool for correcting every minor missed foul. The incident must still fall within a permitted category and the period covered by the protocol.
A key 2026/27 example is a clearly incorrect second caution that results in a red card. If that caution was shown and is clearly wrong, the VAR may assist with a review. If the referee simply missed a possible second-yellow offence, VAR cannot intervene only because a yellow card may have been missed.
How does a VAR check and review work?
1. The referee makes an initial decision
The referee and the other on-field officials must officiate as if there were no VAR, except when a serious incident has been missed. They cannot deliberately give no decision and leave the call to the VAR.
2. The VAR automatically checks
The VAR checks footage for every potential or actual goal, penalty, red-card incident or mistaken-identity case within the protocol. If there is no clear and obvious error or serious missed incident, the check may end silently. A check is not automatically a review announced to the audience.
3. The referee decides whether to start a review
If the VAR sees a possible error within the threshold, the VAR communicates with the referee. The referee may also suspect that a serious incident was missed. Only the referee can start the review; if play is moving, the referee will usually wait for a neutral situation before stopping play.
4. The appropriate review method is used
- For subjective judgements such as the intensity of a challenge, interference in an offside situation or the considerations in a handball decision, an on-field review (OFR) is usually appropriate.
- For factual questions such as an offside position, the point of contact, whether an offence was inside or outside the penalty area or whether the ball was out of play, a VAR-only review is usually appropriate. The referee hears the VAR’s description and makes the decision.
- After the review, the referee shows the TV signal and communicates the final decision. Accuracy matters more than speed, so the protocol does not set a maximum time limit for a review.
Once play has stopped and restarted, an old incident normally cannot be reviewed. The IFAB provides limited exceptions for mistaken identity and certain potential sending-off incidents such as violent conduct, biting, spitting or extremely offensive, insulting or abusive actions.
Who makes the final decision?
The on-field referee always makes the final decision. The VAR may provide camera angles, the point of contact, a player’s position or the sequence of play; the VAR does not independently show a card, cancel a goal or award a penalty instead of the referee.
That is why a referee does not always need to go to the screen when VAR is involved. For an objective fact, the referee may decide from the information supplied by the VAR. Conversely, a trip to the screen does not guarantee that the original decision will change.
Which matches use VAR?
VAR is not automatically present in every match. Under Law 5 and the IFAB VAR protocol, the match or competition organiser must fulfil the implementation requirements in the VAR Handbook and receive written permission from FIFA.
The technology must also meet the relevant FIFA quality and approval processes. FIFA states that VAR technology has been required to be certified since the 2022/23 season, with testing focused on synchronicity, latency and video quality. This is why one match should not be used to assume that every competition uses the same system.
Whether a competition allows review of a clearly wrongly awarded corner is also a competition option. The competition regulations, the edition of the Laws in force and the actual implementation must be checked separately.
VAR does not review every play
- VAR is not a system for reviewing every foul, every challenge or every free kick.
- Players and coaches cannot request a review; the VAR automatically checks incidents within the permitted scope.
- A disagreement between referees does not automatically amount to a clear and obvious error.
- A decision to award a throw-in, corner or another restart cannot be changed after play has restarted. The optional VAR correction of a clearly wrongly awarded corner applies only before the corner is taken, if the competition has adopted the option and the correction is immediate without delaying the restart.
- A check is the VAR’s examination of footage; a review is the referee’s formal process for deciding whether the call should change. The terms should not be treated as interchangeable.
Four easy examples
A goal and offside
A team scores, but the VAR checks the moment a teammate played the ball and finds that the scorer was in an offside position and then became involved in active play. This is a goal/no-goal check. VAR does not create a new offside law; the referee still applies Law 11.
A penalty decision
The referee awards a penalty, but the VAR shows that the offence occurred outside the penalty area. Because location is a factual question, the VAR can describe the footage and the referee decides how to proceed. If the play is only a disputed contact that does not meet the error threshold, the original call may stand.
A red card and a second caution
A player receives a second caution for an alleged offence, but the footage clearly shows that the cautioned player did not commit it. If the mistake results in a red card, the incident may be reviewed under the 2026/27 update. That is different from the referee missing a possible second-yellow offence.
A corner as a competition option
A corner is awarded and the footage clearly shows that the attacking player touched the ball last. If the competition has adopted the option, the correction must happen immediately and must not delay the restart. Once the corner has been taken quickly, that option cannot change the decision.
Frequently asked questions
Does VAR review every foul in a match?
No. VAR handles only reviewable categories and requires a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident. An ordinary disputed challenge does not automatically become a VAR incident.
Can players or coaches request VAR?
No. The VAR automatically checks incidents within the protocol. Players and team officials must not request a review or try to influence the referee.
Must the referee always go to the screen?
No. An OFR is usually suited to subjective judgements, while a VAR-only review is usually suited to factual questions. In either case, the referee decides.
Can VAR review a second yellow card?
Under the 2026/27 update, VAR may assist when a clearly incorrect second caution has resulted in a red card. VAR cannot intervene merely because the referee missed a possible second-yellow offence.
Can VAR always correct a wrongly awarded corner?
No. It is a competition option. The competition must allow it, the correction must be immediate and the restart must not be delayed; a corner taken quickly cannot be changed under this option.
Does every football match have VAR?
No. The match or competition must meet the implementation requirements and receive written permission from FIFA. The specific use also depends on the competition regulations and the system in place.
Can VAR review an incident after play has restarted?
Usually no, although the protocol has limited exceptions such as mistaken identity and certain potential sending-off incidents. It does not mean that every old incident can be reopened.
For related rules, see yellow and red cards and added time and extra time. For more plain-language football rules, continue with KBVN+ football knowledge.
Official sources
- The IFAB — Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocol
- The IFAB — Law 5: The Referee
- The IFAB — Law changes
- FIFA — The IFAB introduces further measures to improve match flow and player behaviour
- FIFA — FIFA Quality Programme for VAR Technology