Soccer (Football)
What is VAR in soccer? A clear, fan‑friendly guide
VAR in soccer explained: How the Video Assistant Referee uses replay technology to fix goals, penalties and red cards.
Soccer moves fast. Stars such as Trinity Rodman make lightning-quick moves, dodging defenders and taking shots in the blink of an eye.
Watching them in action, it’s easy to miss a handball, a subtle offside or a controversial challenge, all moments that can completely change a game. That’s where VAR, or Video Assistant Referee, comes in. By reviewing key plays with video replay, VAR helps referees make more accurate calls and keep the game fair.
Even the most experienced referees can miss a call sometimes. That’s why as viewers, understanding VAR soccer rules and technology is more important than ever. Everyone asks the same questions: When can VAR be used? Why does VAR sometimes take so long? And how does VAR affect the flow of the game?
Trinity Rodman
© Wolfgang Zac / The Red Bulletin
Read on to learn everything you need to know about VAR and how it shapes modern soccer.
01
How Did VAR Start?
Match between RB Leipzig and FC Sankt Pauli in Leipzig in November 2014
© GEPA pictures / Red Bull Content Pool
VAR was created to help referees get tricky calls right, without replacing referees. It was first tested in the 2012–13 Dutch season in the Netherlands. After the trial phase and approval by IFAB in 2016, VAR began broader implementation in competitions around the world.
Early live experiments in professional matches included PSV vs. FC Eindhoven in the Netherlands. In the U.S., VAR testing started shortly between New York Red Bulls II vs. Orlando City B. Additional VAR trials continued through USL and MLS-affiliated experiments before the system was fully deployed in MLS first-division matches starting in the 2017 season.
Takeaways:
- Approved by IFAB in 2016 after successful trials.
- Early live tests: PSV vs. FC Eindhoven, New York Red Bulls II vs. Orlando City B.
02
How Does VAR Work?
VAR works a lot like instant replay in sports like basketball or football, helping referees without taking away their authority. Off the field, an AVAR (Assistant Video Assistant Referee) watches for potential incidents, keeps track of events and shares recommendations with the head referee. When a potential mistake comes up, the head referee has three choices:
- Change rulings (clear offsides/handballs)
- Stop play and review it on the field for more subjective situations like fouls or red cards
- Ignore VAR recommendations if needed
03
What VAR reviews
New York Red Bulls
© Garth Milan
VAR is allowed to review four main types of decisions and each has its own focus:
- Goals: Check the build-up for offsides, fouls or handballs
- Penalties: Confirm whether a foul happened and if the ball was in or out of play first
- Direct red cards: Judge the severity and if needed, correct the call
- Mistaken identity: Make sure the right player is penalized, in any situation where the referee may have penalized the wrong player
These are the plays where VAR really steps in to make sure nothing unfair goes unnoticed.
04
What VAR Does Not Review
There are also things VAR does not review. VAR does not review first yellow cards, corner kicks, throw-in and most minor fouls or handball calls.
VAR does not cover:
- First yellow cards
- Corners and throw-ins
- Most subjective handballs or minor fouls
05
Pros and cons of VAR
Trinity Rodman sharpening her game with some drills
© Jared Martinez / Red Bull Content Pool
It’s obvious that VAR has several clear benefits, but it isn’t exactly perfect. On the plus side, it can reduce big referring mistakes, ensure fairness in goals, penalties and holds officials accountable. On the other side, it can slow down the game, spark debates over subjective calls and frustrate fans when explanations aren’t clear.
Pros:
- Reduces critical errors
- Ensure fairness in goals, penalties and red cards
- Holds referees accountable
Cons:
- Can disrupt game flow
- Controversial on subject calls
- Fans may feel confused by delays
06
Real world impact of VAR
VAR has already shaken things up in professional soccer. For example, a late penalty for RB Leipzig against Werder Bremen in 2021 was confirmed by the VAR, completely flipping the match outcome.
In MLS playoff games, VAR has overturned offsides and goal-line calls, making sure the right decisions are made.
Even on the world stage, like the 2018 World Cup, VAR helped referees make the right calls 99.3% of the time (up from 95% accuracy without VAR). While VAR is a piece of technology, it’s having a real impact on how games are won and lost.
FAQs
What’s next for VAR?
Since VAR is still fairly new, it’s still evolving. Future improvements could include faster reviews, AI-assisted offside detection, clearer communication through stadium screens or broadcasts and better integration with soccer formations and tactical analytics. The goal is simple: get decisions right while keeping the game flowing and preserving the human element that makes soccer so exciting.