What VAR is for
VAR is not a second referee for every small decision. It supports match-changing decisions in defined categories.
VAR
VAR Explained
A beginner guide to VAR in soccer: what it can review and why it does not check everything.
Why checks can take time
The VAR team may check angles, timing, contact, offside position, and whether an incident belongs to a reviewable category.
Visual path
VAR categories
Goal
Penalty
Direct red card
Mistaken identity
Based on FIFA tournament information for World Cup pages and the IFAB Laws of the Game for rules pages. Football Buddy keeps explanations short for casual fans.
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FAQ
Common beginner questions
Does VAR review every foul?
No. VAR is limited to specific match-changing categories.
Can the referee still make the final decision?
Yes. The on-field referee remains the final decision-maker.