Understand the VAR

Tseyi Agharaye

With time running out and Manchester United losing the tie 3-2 on aggregate, they were in dire need of a goal that could save them from imminent defeat. Diogo Dalot received a pass from midfield, his first touch was good, he looked up and strike the ball towards Buffon’s goal but his strike was blocked by Presnel Kimpembe who backed the ball and the strike deflected off his hand, goes out for a corner kick with little or no appeal from any United player or staff. Corner kick, we thought, until the ref paused for a while and clutched his hand towards his ear, OH NO! He was trying to consult VAR.

What is VAR? VAR stands for Video Assistant Referee. It is a team of three people who work together to review certain decisions made by the main referee by watching video replays of the relevant incidents. That team is comprised of the video assistant referee himself (who will be a current or former referee), his assistant and a replay operator. They are situated in a video operation room which is essentially a bank of monitors offering different camera angles.

VAR, majorly being used for three main (plus one administrative) incidents, have been identified as game-changer in the history of the game.

First, the role of the VAR is to assist the referee to determine whether there was an infringement that means a goal should not be awarded. As the ball has crossed the line, play is interrupted so there is no direct impact on the game. The role of VAR here is to ensure that all goals given are legitimately scored and those that are not legitimate should be cancelled

The second role of VAR is to ensure that no clearly wrong decisions are made in conjunction with the award or non-award of a penalty kick.

Third, the role of VAR is to ensure that no clearly wrong decisions are made in conjunction with sending off or not sending off a player. That all decision taken by the center referee in matters relating to the marching orders of a player should be warranted and correct.

The fourth is to prevent the case of mistaken identity. In a situation where a referee cautions, sends off the wrong player, or is unsure which player should be sanctioned, the VAR will inform the referee so that the right player can be disciplined.

Now that we have an idea of how VAR is and should be used, the question is how is VAR implemented by both the match officials and the VAR officials?

How does Video assistant referee (VAR) work?

When any incidence occurs, the referee informs the VAR, or the VAR recommends to the referee that a decision/incident should be reviewed. The second step is the reviewing of the video footage by the VAR, who advises the referee on what to do via headset.

The VAR’s advice, notwithstanding, the referee can decide to either accepts the information from the VAR or review the video footage on the side of the field of play before taking any appropriate action or decision.

For better understanding, let me expatiate further on how the whole VAR system works. The standard protocol for overturning the referee’s original decision is that there must been a “clear error,” sometimes expanded to “clear and obvious error.”

The process begins with the video assistant referee(s) and the assistant video assistant referee (AVAR) reviewing the play in question on a bank of monitors in the video operation room (VOR) with the assistance of the replay operator. This can be triggered by the referee requesting the review or by the VAR conducting a “check” to see if a review should be recommended to the referee.

If the VAR finds nothing during the check, then communication with the referee is unnecessary, which is called a “silent check”. If the VAR believes there has been a potential clear error, the referee will be contacted with that judgment.

The referee can then either (a) Change the call on the advice of the VAR or (b) Conduct an on-field review (OFR) by going to a designated spot on the sideline, called the referee review area, to review the video with the help of the review assistant or (c) Decide that he/she is confident in the original call and not conduct an OFR. The referee is allowed to stop play to reverse a call or conduct an OFR at his own request without advice from the VAR, but is not to do so when either team is engaged in good attacking possibility.

The official signal for a video review is the referee making the outline of a rectangle with his index fingers (indicating a video screen). This precedes both any OFR as well as any change in the original call. Players who demand a video review by making the rectangle motion excessively are to be cautioned with a yellow card. Players who enter the area where the referee conducts an OFR are also to be cautioned with a yellow card, and team officials who do so are to be dismissed.

However, the usage of VAR has generated a lot of controversy. In PSG and Manchester United match, after consultation, the referee indicated he was going to consult the OFR (On Field Review) by using his index finger to draw a rectangle shape. The referee ran towards the screen and could be seen reviewing the incident. There was absolute silence at the Parc des Princes waiting patiently for the referee final decision.

After much consultation, the referee comes back into the field. He did the usual VAR sign and awarded United a penalty kick, the whole of Paris was stunned. Presnel Kimpembe could not believe his eyes, PSG started the match with a two-goal advantage they secured with a win at old Trafford three weeks earlier and everything was crumbling in front of their home fans.

Marcos Rashford stepped forward to take the penalty. With the experience Gigi Buffon in goal, Paris and Manchester held their breath. Rashford ran towards the ball and smashed it pass Buffon, Manchester United were through to the last 8 of the Champions league courtesy of VAR.

The controversy continues with PSG claiming it was not a deliberate hand ball and that the defender could not obviously get out of the way since his hands where in a natural position. Uefa had to issue a statement and after viewing replays, UEFA said the referee awarded the spot-kick against PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe because “his arm was not close to his body” when Diogo Dalot’s shot struck it.

“Following the on-field review, the referee confirmed that the distance that the ball travelled was not short and the impact could therefore not be unexpected,” a UEFA statement said “The defender’s arm was not close to the body, which made the defender’s body bigger thus resulting in the ball being stopped from travelling in the direction of the goal. The referee, therefore, awarded a penalty kick.”

Many notable pundits such as former Manchester united defender, Rio Ferdinand insists Manchester United did not deserve their penalty to eliminate Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League

The former United defender contends that Presnel Kimpembe was jumping with his arms in a natural position, Ferdinand then elaborated on the incident, admitting, despite his allegiance, that PSG were unfortunate. “Ferdinand said “People who are not on the panel with VAR, if you are blocking a shot and coming out as a defender, you have to have your hands behind your back to make sure it’s not a penalty. “I don’t understand that, which player can come out and have balance with hands behind their back or immediately down by their side.

“When you stand, you stand like this (arms slight away from body), you don’t stand like this (hands straight down) – this isn’t natural.

“Your natural position is like this. When you jump his hands aren’t up here, they’re here. I don’t get it, I don’t think its handball. I love it that it is handball.”

It was PSG’s word and how they understood the incident versus Uefa. The essence of technology in football or any sport at all is to clear errors, uncertainty, cheating and anything that would leave any party involved aggrieved, but as the incidents of the recent days have shown, VAR is yet to provide such a solution.

There has been calls for some quarters that VAR should be dropped. Such critics attributed their action to the time it takes to get a final decision and also point to the uncertainty it creates. One is clear though, FIFA and other Football governing body will need to do more to make the rules, clearer and easy to interpret. On a personal note, I believe that VAR is an interesting innovation, but more work needs to be done on how the rules are interpreted and the time it takes for every decision to be made.