VAR Debut in World Cup 2018

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Football is not foreign with a mistake. Sometimes, referee decided a foul or an offside when in fact it is not. It will be a disadvantageous for the team that get these wrong decision and creating a controversy. But, it will be a lot different from now on. In the World Cup 2018 Russia, there will be something new and different. After Goal Line Technology, referee will get another support. That new technology is VAR. What is VAR actually? And what will it do? We will explain it for you.

VAR Definition

The Video Assistant Referee system, known as VAR, is football's first use of video technology to reach more correct decisions. The system was trialed in the FA and Carabao Cups last season, as well as the German and Italian leagues.

The system has already been used in the World Cup group stage to correct and clarify decisions, including Diego Costa's first goal against Portugal, France's penalty against Australia as well as Sweden's penalty against South Korea.

This technology will be used following the unanimous approval of the International Football Association Board in Zurich in March, who voted to introduce the system permanently. This is the first World Cup using video replays, although goal line technology was successfully employed in Brazil four years ago.

When VAR Will be Used?


VAR only intervenes in the course of a match when the officials have made a 'clear and obvious error' in one of four key areas.

Goals

A close offside decision is the most common reason for VAR being consulted after a goal has been scored, but shirt-pulling and other infringements can cause goals to be chalked off.

NB. The concept of 'clear and obvious' errors does not apply to offsides. A player is either onside or offside - you cannot be a little bit pregnant. So even if a player is offside by a matter of inches, the goal will be ruled out.

Penalties

The most subjective and arguably problematic area. Penalties can be awarded or rescinded using VAR if there has been a 'clear and obvious error' in the original decision.

Straight red cards

Violent conduct and dangerous tackles can be penalized using VAR. Second-yellow cards cannot.

Mistaken identity

If the referee sends off the wrong player, such as the famous incident with Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in Arsenal's 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea in 2014, that injustice can be repaired. 

The system is restricted to these areas in order to minimize disruption to the flow of the game.

How Will It Work?

There are three ways VAR can play out during the game:

The video referee speaks to the on-field referee through an earpiece, who will put his hand up to pause play and inform the players a decision is being reviewed. If satisfied there is no error, he will signal for play to re-start.

VAR decides. In this instance the referee will draw a rectangle with his arms to replicate a TV a screen. The video referee will review the incident and the referee will make the same signal if he wishes to change his decision.

An 'on-field review', as we saw when Italy were rewarded a penalty at Wembley earlier this year. With more subjective decisions, the video referee will instruct the referee to watch a replay on a pitchside screen. He will make the 'TV signal' before communicating his final decision.



The referee must always make a decision - he cannot let play unfold and wait for VAR. He can only go back to the start of the attacking phase that provoked the incident, and must wait until the ball is in a neutral zone to stop play.

Concerns

But despite the guidelines in place, opponents of VAR have a series of concerns, which are:
  • Failure to provide swift clarification to fans about whatever may be at issue;
  • Differing interpretations over “a clear mistake” and whether the match referee or the video referee should react;
  • Lack of experience of many World Cup referees with VAR (workshops are no substitute for high-level competitive experience);
  • Mismatch of different nationalities on-pitch and off-pitch for the same match who, whatever their competence in English, may not speak the same “football language”;
  • Danger of referees acceding to player power for fear of a mistake which could wreck their careers – and end their World Cup.

Source: Telegraph | World Soccer

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