Sports: Everything you should know about Video Assistant Referee and its use in football

The technology is currently being tested across major football leagues in the world.

The use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in football is currently the major talking point in the soccer. Most especially as the technology was deployed to award Leicester City its second goal in the last Tuesday, January 16 FA Cup game against Fleetwood.

VAR is technology that stands as an assistant referee in a football match and helps to review decisions made by the head referee. A contrary decision to that of the centre referee is made known via a headset communication. In June 2016, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) – the body that enacts football laws, approved the use of Video referees.

At present, the technology is not yet part of the football game but it is currently undergoing trials across major leagues in the world.

1. What are the roles of VAR?

The role of VAR is to review the following calls or decision by the centre referee during a football game.

1. Review goals and determine if there was a violation during the buildup

2. Review a penalty decision

3. Mistaken identity in issuing of red or yellow card

4. Review red card decisions

2. How VAR works and its use in a football match

 

If one of the four incidents above happens and the centre referee has made a call in error, the VAR signals to the official for a review of the play.

The referee will then review the play using the touchline booth where the game is being recorded. After this review, the referee makes a decision either to uphold the original call or change it based on the new angles presented by the VAR.

It must be noted that the VAR cannot overrule the referee’s decision.

3. The first time VAR was used in a football match

The first time VAR was used in a football game was in a United Soccer League match in August 2016, and it helped the match referee, Ismail Elfath to review two foul decisions during the match. After use of the technology, Ismail issued a red card and a yellow card in respective incidents.

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