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What is the Full Meaning of VAR?

Published in Sports Technology 2 mins read

The most common full meaning of VAR is Video Assistant Referee.

VAR is a technology and a role in sports, primarily association football (soccer), used to assist the main referee in making decisions during a match. The VAR team reviews certain decisions made by the referee on the field and can advise the referee to review their decision based on video footage.

Key Aspects of VAR:

  • Purpose: To minimize clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents that could significantly impact the outcome of a match.
  • Reviewable Incidents: VAR intervention is generally limited to four categories:
    • Goals: Any potential infringement in the build-up to a goal.
    • Penalties: Clear and obvious errors in awarding or not awarding a penalty.
    • Direct Red Cards: Clear and obvious errors in awarding or not awarding a direct red card.
    • Mistaken Identity: When the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player.
  • Process:
    1. VAR identifies a potential error: The VAR team monitors the match and identifies a potential clear and obvious error.
    2. VAR recommends a review: The VAR team communicates with the referee and suggests a review of the incident.
    3. On-field review (OFR) or VAR-only decision: The referee can either review the footage themselves on a monitor at the side of the field (OFR) or accept the information provided by the VAR team.
    4. Decision: The referee then makes a final decision based on the review or the VAR's advice.

Example:

Imagine a scenario where a player is tackled in the penalty area, and the referee doesn't award a penalty. The VAR team reviews the footage and determines that the tackle was a clear foul. They advise the referee to review the incident on the monitor. After reviewing the footage, the referee changes their decision and awards a penalty.

Impact of VAR:

VAR has been implemented to improve the accuracy of decisions in sports. While it has been credited with correcting many errors, it has also been controversial due to concerns about delays in play, inconsistent application, and the subjective nature of some decisions.

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