Video assistant referee

This article is about the match official in association football. For the general concept of referees reviewing decisions with video footage, see Instant replay § Use by officials.

VAR monitor at the Estadio Monumental David Arellano
The VAR symbol used at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, appearing on-screen during the review process

The video assistant referee (VAR) is a match official in association football who assists the referee by reviewing decisions using video footage and providing advice to the referee based on those reviews.

The assistant video assistant referee (AVAR) is a match official appointed to assist the VAR in the video operation room and around the pitch. There are three AVARs (AVAR1, AVAR2, and AVAR3) who are assigned to different parts of the game that they are charged with reviewing and are in consistent communication with the VAR about possible situations that might warrant further review. The job of the AVAR1 is to watch the main camera and communicate some of the more obvious offenses within the game. The AVAR2 is located at the offside station and is responsible for assisting the VAR with offsides and reporting possible missed offside calls. The AVAR3 is responsible for monitoring the TV programs and assists in communication between the AVAR2 and the VAR since the AVAR2 is at the offside station.[1]

In addition to the VAR and the AVARs there are three replay operators who help the VAR and AVARs select the cameras with the best angle.[1]

Following extensive trialling in a number of major competitions, VAR was formally written into the Laws of the Game by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) on March 3, 2018.[2] Operating under the philosophy of "minimal interference, maximum benefit",[3][4] the VAR system seeks to provide a way for "clear and obvious errors" and "serious missed incidents" to be corrected.

  1. ^ a b "Video Assistant Referee (VAR)". FIFA Inside. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Historic step for greater fairness in football". International Football Association Board. 3 March 2018. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  3. ^ Staff writers (20 June 2018). "World Cup 2018: VAR helps tournament reach 10 penalties – so is it working?". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  4. ^ Staff, S. V. G. (12 October 2018). "EVS Xeebra Replay System Facilitates VAR Implementation for Copa do Brasil Tournament". Sports Video Group. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.