The Pitch
How VAR Actually Works: The Four Reviewable Incidents and the "Clear and Obvious Error" Test
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology intervenes in football only for four specific match-changing situations: goals, penalties, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. Interventions occur only when the on-field call is a "clear and obvious error" or a factual mistake plainly corrected by video evidence, with the final decision always resting with the referee.
Sofia Castillo·October 20, 2026
