VAR: What is the Video Assistant Referee and how does it work?
Since VAR – or Video Assistant Referee to give it its full name – was introduced in football, referees have been able to review key decisions using video technology. The system is designed to make the game fairer by correcting clear and serious errors by match officials. But when can VAR intervene, and what decisions can it review? Here's everything you need to know about how VAR works under the rules.
What is VAR and how does it work alongside the match referee?
The VAR was introduced to support on-field referees as the game continues to speed up. Its role and procedures are set out in a dedicated protocol within the Laws of the Game. In Germany, the VAR is supported by an Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR) and two operators at the Cologne Video Assistance Center (VAC). This means four qualified staff members are on hand at each workstation to monitor the game.
The need for VAR is clear: in close or confusing situations that can decide a game and unfold in a fraction of a second, referees can get things wrong. The VAR can review footage from multiple camera angles and at different speeds before alerting the referee via radio if there has been a clear and obvious error.
In certain clearly defined situations, the referee then reviews the incident on a pitchside monitor – an on-field review – before making the final decision. In other cases, such as an unpunished offside in the build-up to a goal, the referee can make the decision based on a VAR signal without viewing the footage themselves – a factual review. Following either type of review, the referee informs spectators via a stadium announcement of what was reviewed, the outcome and the final decision.
When is the VAR allowed to intervene in a football match?
The VAR may intervene and contact the referee in four clearly defined situations if a decision on the field is deemed a clear and obvious error. The referee can also contact the VAR if they need clarification on an incident.
The four categories in which the VAR conducts a review are:
1) Goal
Was there a clear infraction by the attacking team – such as a foul, handball or offside – in the build-up to or scoring of a goal? Was the ball out of play before the goal? Did the goalkeeper or penalty taker commit an offence during the penalty kick?
2) Penalty
Was the penalty kick clearly awarded incorrectly? Conversely, was a foul worthy of a penalty unjustifiably not given? Did the attacking team commit a foul in the build-up to a penalty being awarded? Was the ball already out of play? And did the foul occur inside or outside the penalty area?
3) Straight red card
Was a red card or second yellow clearly shown in error? Conversely, was an offence warranting a sending-off unjustifiably not punished with a straight red card? Was a clear goalscoring opportunity denied by a foul? Was there serious foul play or an act of violence?
4) Mistaken identity (in the case of a yellow or red card)
If the referee awards a foul but clearly identifies the wrong player, VAR can be used to determine the correct offender.
How VAR review works: The offside example
Offside decisions often come down to a matter of centimetres – and even those can be a matter of perspective. Depending on the viewing angle, the human eye can perceive the same situation differently. Officials must therefore make a split-second decision on an incident that may not look the same from every angle.
Since the start of the 2025/26 season, VARs have had access to Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) when reviewing potential offside situations. The system uses camera-based player tracking to automatically detect offside positions and determine when the ball was played. The VAR then reviews the SAOT result for plausibility before confirming the decision. They also assess whether the identified offside position is relevant to the subsequent play.
How VAR reviews work: The penalty example
If the referee awards a penalty, the VAR immediately reviews the decision. The same applies if the referee allows play to continue after a challenge or potential handball in the penalty area when a penalty may be warranted. The starting point is always the on-field decision, with VAR intervening only if a review shows that it was clearly and obviously incorrect.
For VAR to intervene, the video footage must provide clear evidence that the referee made an error. If a penalty is awarded, VAR will only intervene if the footage clearly shows that there was no foul or punishable handball, or that the offence occurred outside the penalty area. Conversely, if the referee allows play to continue, VAR will intervene only if the footage clearly shows that a foul or punishable handball occurred inside the penalty area.
A bit of history: the introduction of VAR in football
VAR made its debut on the big stage in September 2016, when it was used for the first time in an official match during a cup tie between Ajax and Willem II, with FIFA's approval. The subject of this historic first was Willem II's Anouar Kali, who was initially shown a yellow card by the referee on the pitch but was subsequently sent off following a VAR intervention.
Following various trial runs, the Australian A-League became the world's first league to introduce VAR in competitive league matches, on 7 April 2017. It was put into use just one day later, when the VAR awarded Sydney FC a penalty after a review revealed a handball by an opposing player.
And what about VAR in the Bundesliga?
After extensive trials in football and its introduction in other leagues, the Bundesliga also introduced VAR for the 2017/18 season. Bundesliga 2 had to wait a little longer, until all stadiums had the necessary infrastructure for the technology. This was primarily for technical reasons. To ensure the smooth transmission of video footage, the stadiums needed fibre-optic cables, which still had to be installed. VAR was subsequently introduced in Bundesliga 2 ahead of the 2019/20 season.
Clubs in Germany's top two leagues must adapt when competing in the DFB Cup, however, as VAR is not used in the first two rounds. One reason is that these rounds feature numerous smaller clubs that do not have the necessary infrastructure for VAR checks. Another is simply a lack of available personnel. In the first round alone, 32 matches are played, all requiring referees and assistant referees. Adding VAR teams to the equation would push the DFB's refereeing system to the limits of its capacity.
What is the 'Kölner Keller'?
The 2026/27 season will be the last for video assistants at the Video Assist Center in Cologne-Deutz. From the 2027/28 season, they will move to the new VAR Center at the DFB Campus in Frankfurt, where they will have access to even more modern and professional facilities.
