VAR: Premier League clubs to vote on scrapping Video Assistant Referee technology

VAR – or Video Assistant Referee – technology only gets involved when officials have made a ‘clear and obvious error’ in one of four key areas: goals, penalties, red cards and mistaken identity.

Goals – A close offside decision is the most common reason for VAR being used after a goal has been scored, but things like shirt-pulling and other fouls could also see goals disallowed after a VAR review.

Under current rules, there is no margin for error for strikers trying to stay in-line with defenders. If a player is offside by a centimetre or even less, the goal will be ruled out.

Penalties – Penalties can be given or taken away using VAR, but only if there has been a ‘clear and obvious error’ in the original decision.

It can also be used to award retakes if a goalkeeper leaves his or her goal-line.

Straight red cards – In-game straight red cards for violent conduct and dangerous tackles can be given or reversed using VAR.

However, second yellow cards cannot be given with VAR help.

Mistaken identity – If the referee sends-off or books the wrong player, VAR can correct that decision.