What is VAR and how it works during and after the match

In recent years we have witnessed the implementation of a new technology in football, this one bears the popular name of VAR and has become an ally for referees on the pitch to be able to verify plays and make decisions, such as the validation of goals, fouls and more. With those that occurred in Montevideo during the controversial arbitration of Peru vs. Uruguay, in the following lines we will explain what it is and how it works during and after the 90 minutes of the meeting.

WHAT IS VAR?

This term is short for video arbitration. It is a technology that serves as an assistant to the referees in order to help determine if there has been any infringement that prevents a goal from being awarded to one of the participating teams. It consists of a set of cameras that broadcast to a room away from the field and that can be reviewed when the party authority decides.

HOW DOES VAR WORK?

FIFA explains each of its functions in 3 steps, according to the development of the match and when one of the parties involved registers an irregularity and is notified at the time to the head referee. This is his meddling on the scene:

- STEP 1: When an incident occurs, the referee informs the video assistants. In other cases, it is these collaborators who make a recommendation to the arbitrary authority to review the images, and make a decision on the incident recorded.

- STEP 2: the instance of a review and recommendation of video assistants is reached. These video professionals examine the recorded images in real time and inform the referee what happened through an audio system (this is why they wear a small earpiece from the start to the end of the match).

- STEP 3: It is in this scenario that an arbitral decision and action is taken. The referee exposes on the court and in front of all the assistants what he has decided after watching the video on the side of the field or based on the information communicated to him by the video assistants of the VAR.

WHEN IS VAR USED?

The referee can use the VAR in three cases that can radically change the course of a match, as well as if the identity of a player is confused. These scenarios have been divided as follows:

- GOALS: The role of video assistants is to help the referee determine if there has been any infringement that prevents conceding a goal. Once the ball has crossed the finish line, the game has already been interrupted, so the pace of the match is not affected.

- PENALTIES: VAR assistants avoid wrong decisions regarding whether to award (or not) a penalty.

- RED CARDS: Video assistants avoid erroneous decisions regarding the expulsion of a player.

- CONFUSION OF IDENTITY: If a referee does not warn or expel the player he owes, or it is not clear which player has committed an infringement, video assistants can inform the court authority to sanction the relevant player.

At this point it is important to note that after a meeting is concluded, the specific recordings can be made public, as well as the audios between the VAR team and the person responsible for the arbitration.

If one of the teams affected by the decision believes that they must reach other instances to report irregular acts, they may present this type of material as evidence.