The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was introduced in the 2019/20 Premier League season after the clubs voted unanimously in November 2018 to have the system.
All 380 Premier League fixtures in a season have a VAR who works alongside an Assistant VAR constantly monitoring a match.
Principles of VAR
The VAR will intervene in four match-changing situations only:
- Goals
- Penalties
- Red cards
- Mistaken identity
The final decision will always be taken by the on-field referee.
High bar of intervention
In the Premier League, there will be a high bar for VAR intervention on subjective decisions.
The decision of the referee, known as the “Referee’s Call”, will stand unless, in the opinion of the VAR, based upon the evidence readily available, that call is a clear-and-obvious error.
If a clear-and-obvious error is identified by the VAR, for subjective decisions, after checking the attacking possession phase (APP) for any clear infringements by the attacking team, the VAR will advise the on-pitch referees to use the pitchside monitors (the Referee Review Area (RRA)) to review the incident and make a final decision.
Factual on-field decisions in the four situations above will not be subject to the "clear and obvious error" test. These are:
- factual offside
- accidental handball by the goalscorer
- if a foul was committed inside or outside the penalty area
- the ball out of play
- goalkeeper movement or encroachment of the penalty area at a spot-kick
- mistaken identity
