What is VAR?

I know I said I’d write about the Golden Boot race this week, but after last night’s Nashville Soccer Club win over the Philadelphia Union in the 101st minute, I need to know more about the Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, that got us there.

In extra time, NSC midfielder Hany Mukhtar appeared to be on the tripping end of a Philly tackle “in the box,” which could mean a penalty kick for Nashville. Play continued for another minute or so before stopping for VAR.

Watch the last few minutes here.

Introduced to MLS in 2017, the Video Assistant Referee is a certified referee and member of the officiating team who watches the game on video. The VAR reviews calls on the field for errors or misses in four game-changing categories: goals, penalty kicks, straight red cards, and cases of mistaken identity (mlssoccer.com).

After stopping play for VAR, the head referee signals from the field that VAR review is underway by drawing the rectangular shape of a TV screen with their pointer fingers.

Here are some other things I learned about VAR (mlssoccer.com):

• VAR is only used in MLS in the four instances described above. It is not used for offside decisions, throw-in decisions, goal kick decisions, corner kick decisions, and most yellow card decisions (only reviewed if there’s a serious error).
  
• The play clock does not stop during VAR, there is no time limit for VAR, and time used during VAR can be added to stoppage time for VAR at the head referee’s discretion.
  
• VAR review happens when play is stopped, and must be done before play restarts. Only serious missed incidents, like violent conduct or gestures, can be reviewed after play resumes.

I’m traveling for work next week and will miss seeing NSC take on D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal at home. The plan for now is to learn all about red cards for my next post, spurred by NSC midfielder Jonathan Pérez who left the game on a red card in the 63rd minute and is suspended for at least one game.

Got something to add? You’re invited to share what you know about VAR in the comments, but remember to do it like you’re a person who loves the game and wants other people to love it, too. If I made a mistake or missed some nuance, I’m happy to update the post.