Video assistant referee (VAR) protocol

Scope and authority

VAR use requires implementation requirements to be met and written FIFA permission. Officials still make an initial decision, including allowing play to continue; they cannot simply leave a decision to VAR. Only the referee initiates a review. There is no fixed review time limit.

Reviewable categories

• Goal/no goal: attacking offences in the build-up, ball out of play, whether the ball crossed the line and relevant penalty-taking or directly involved rebound-encroachment offences.
• Penalty/no penalty: attacking build-up offences, ball out of play, offence location, wrongly awarded penalties and missed penalty offences.
• Red cards: DOGSO, serious foul play, violent conduct, biting, spitting, abusive actions and, in 2026/27, a clearly incorrect second caution that produced a red card.
• Mistaken identity: a caution or red card given to the wrong player, including where the actual offender belongs to either team. Identity alone is reviewed under this category.
• Optional in a competition: a clearly wrongly awarded corner, but only if corrected immediately without delaying the restart.

Checks and reviews

VAR checks relevant footage automatically. A check showing no clear error normally remains silent. To hold a restart for information the referee indicates the earpiece and extends the other arm. A formal review uses the TV signal, followed by the final decision.

• Subjective decisions normally need an on-field review; factual matters can usually be resolved using VAR information alone.
• Slow motion helps establish facts such as position or contact; normal speed is used for intensity and handball judgement.
• Goal, penalty and DOGSO reviews may include the directly preceding attacking phase and how possession was gained.
• A delayed flag/whistle is reserved for a very clear attacking opportunity. If a delayed-flag attack leads to a goal, awarded restart or retained possession after the initial attack, the assistant flags.

After play has restarted

Review after a restart is restricted to mistaken identity or potential sending-off offences involving violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting or abusive actions. Restart decisions cannot be reversed after play restarts.

• Discipline for later incidents normally survives reversal of the original decision, except sanctions for stopping a promising attack or DOGSO in the post-incident period.

Conduct and operational limits

Players and staff must not pressure officials or interfere. Players stay on the pitch during review; substitutes and staff stay off. Excessive TV gestures or entering the review area brings a caution; entering the video operation room brings dismissal.

• Public explanations after a review or lengthy check are an optional competition system under FIFA guidance.
• Technology failure, VAR mistakes, failure to review or review of an ineligible incident do not in principle invalidate a match.
• An incapacitated VAR, assistant VAR or replay operator can only be replaced by a qualified person. Without a VAR or replay-operator replacement, continue without VAR. Without an assistant VAR replacement, continuing with VAR requires the stated exceptional written agreement of both teams; these restrictions do not apply if another person in the same role remains.