Also known as: var.
VAR has various meanings in the Football category. Discover the full forms, definitions, and usage contexts of VAR in Football.
It's a technology-based system used by match officials to review decisions made by the on-field referee during a game. The main goal of VAR is to correct "clear and obvious errors" or "serious missed incidents" in four key situations: goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. When people search for "Video Assistant Referee" or "VAR" in football, they might also be looking for "video review," "referee assistance technology," "officiating aid," or "controversial decisions" as it often sparks debate.
The VAR system works by having a team of officials in a video operation room (VOR) who watch the match on multiple screens from different camera angles. If they spot a clear mistake by the referee, they communicate with the on-field referee through an earpiece. The referee can then either accept the VAR's advice or go to a pitchside monitor to review the incident themselves. Although VAR aims to increase fairness and accuracy, it has also led to discussions about game flow interruptions and the subjective nature of some decisions, despite significantly reducing clear errors.
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