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Football (Soccer) vocabulary · Referees, VAR & Discipline

VAR

Meaning in football (soccer), with examples

/ˌviː eɪ ˈɑːr/abbreviationCore term

In football (soccer), VAR means: Video assistant referee: officials who watch replays and advise the referee about clear and obvious errors in key, match-changing situations.

In Turkish: VAR, video yardımcı hakem

How it is used

VAR can review goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and mistaken identity. Reporters say a goal is under review, VAR checked it, or the referee went to the monitor for an on-field review. Fans say "the goal was ruled out by VAR". Said as letters or as one word, /vɑːr/.

Example sentences

  1. The goal was ruled out by VAR for a foul in the build-up.

  2. After a long VAR check, the referee awarded the penalty.

Common collocations

  • VAR check
  • VAR review
  • on-field review
  • overturned by VAR
  • VAR room
  • refereeThe official in charge of a match who applies the rules, blows the whistle, gives fouls and shows yellow and red cards.
  • offsideDescribes an attacker who, in the opponents' half, is nearer their goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent when a teammate plays the ball, and then takes part in play.
  • penaltyA shot at goal from the penalty spot, 11 metres (12 yards) from the goal line, given when a defender commits a direct free-kick offence inside their own penalty area.
  • red cardA card the referee shows to send a player off for a serious offence, such as violent conduct or denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity; the team then plays with one player fewer.

More terms: Referees, VAR & Discipline

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