What VAR can review, and what it can't

Video assistant referees watch replays to help the on-field referee avoid major mistakes.

Four kinds of decisions

VAR can review goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity.

Clear and obvious errors

For judgement calls, the standard is whether the original decision was clearly wrong, not whether a replay suggests another view.

Facts are different

For factual questions such as offside positions or whether the ball crossed the line, the replay decides.

The referee has the final word

The on-field referee can watch the screen and makes the final decision.