Decisions
Referee decisions and VAR
Football matches are controlled by a small team of officials, supported in many competitions by a video assistant referee. This guide explains how decisions are made on the pitch and how they are reviewed.
The role of the referee
The referee has overall authority over the match and applies the laws of the game.
The referee starts the match, restarts it after each stoppage, signals fouls, awards free kicks and penalties, manages player conduct through cards, and ends each half. Their decisions on facts connected with play are final.
The referee is supported by other match officials, but the final decision is always the referee's. Assistants can indicate offences, restarts and goal-line decisions, but the referee makes the formal decision on the pitch.
The other on-field officials
Depending on the competition, the referee may be supported by several other match officials.
Assistant referees
Two officials, one on each touchline, who run the lines. They flag for offside, indicate which team gets a throw-in or corner, and help spot fouls and incidents the referee may not see.
Fourth official
Based at the side of the pitch near the technical area. Manages substitutions, displays added time, oversees managers and substitutes, and supports the referee.
Reserve assistant
Used in some competitions as cover if an assistant referee, fourth official or additional assistant referee cannot continue, depending on the competition rules.
Common decisions during a match
Most decisions a referee makes during a match fall into a small number of categories.
Fouls and offences
Judging whether a challenge was careless, reckless or used excessive force, and managing other offences such as handball or misconduct.
Read about fouls and offencesOffside
Working with the assistants to decide if an attacker was in an offside position and involved in play.
Read about the offside ruleAdvantage
Choosing whether to play on after a foul if the team that was fouled is in a better position.
Read about the advantage ruleGoals
Confirming when the whole ball has crossed the goal line, supported by goal-line technology where available.
Playing advantage
One of the most important referee decisions is choosing not to stop play.
When a foul is committed, the referee can allow play to continue if the team that was fouled is likely to benefit. This is called playing advantage. If the expected advantage does not develop at that time or within a few seconds, the referee can come back and award the original free kick.
Advantage is often used when stopping play would slow down or reduce a promising attack. The signal is the referee sweeping both arms forward to indicate "play on".
Why decisions can look different from different angles
Many refereeing decisions depend on angle, distance and speed.
Referees and assistants judge incidents in real time, often while players are moving quickly and their view may be partly blocked. A challenge that looks obvious from one camera angle may look different from the referee's position on the pitch.
This is one reason assistants, fourth officials and VAR can be important. They do not replace the referee, but they can provide extra information before the referee makes the final decision.
Video assistant referee (VAR)
Many top competitions now use a video assistant referee to support the on-field team.
VAR is an off-field referee who watches the match on screens and can review specific match-changing decisions using broadcast footage. VAR can recommend that the on-field referee looks again at a moment, but the final decision still rests with the referee.
VAR only intervenes for a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident, and only in four categories — goal/no goal, penalty/no penalty, direct red card offences, and mistaken identity in disciplinary cases. It does not review second-yellow-card decisions.
How a VAR review works
A typical VAR review follows a short, well-defined process.
Check
For every relevant incident, VAR runs a quick check in the background. Most checks confirm the on-field decision and play continues without interruption.
Recommend
If VAR sees a possible clear and obvious error or serious missed incident, they tell the referee. The referee can then accept the factual information or go to the pitch-side monitor to review a subjective decision themselves.
On-field review
For subjective decisions, the referee usually reviews the footage themselves at the side of the pitch before making a final call.
Decision
The referee announces the final decision on the pitch. If the original call is changed, the match restarts in line with the new decision.
What VAR does not do
VAR is designed to catch big mistakes, not to re-referee every moment.
VAR cannot review ordinary yellow-card decisions, including second yellow cards leading to a sending-off, or routine fouls. The main exception is mistaken identity, where VAR can help if the referee has cautioned or sent off the wrong player.
VAR also cannot override a referee on a matter of judgement unless the original decision is clearly wrong. This deliberately raises the bar for changing decisions and keeps the referee in charge of the match.
What to read next
Once you understand how decisions are made, the next step is usually to look at the rules those decisions are based on.