Question Number: 33874

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/7/2020

RE: Competitive Adult

Dinas of Jonkoping, Sverige asks...

This question is a follow up to question 33871

Thank you for your answers.

To add, VAR was present, but the referee was never called to review it.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dinas
As mentioned by my colleagues VAR reviews every single event and if the VAR official feels that the referee may have made an obvious error then it would be referred to the referee for review.
In this instance the VAR official decided that it was not a clear and obvious error so there was no need for an on-field review.
If there was say a missed offside in the build up or the defender clearly played the ball away or there was simulation etc then it would be brought to the referees attention.
Just because the referee did not go to the screen did not mean it was not reviewed in what is called a *silent check*

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Dinas,
Thanks for the clarification. The fact that the VAR, after checking the footage, did not call for a review of this incident, would tie in with my earlier answer that, in any event there was no clear and obvious error by the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Dinas,
The VAR is constantly checking all footage of the match. That's part of the reason why there are multiple staff in the VAR room - to facilitate the checking of the entire match. Constant checks occur to see if there is an incident that meets the VAR review criteria - and this means the VAR needs to be keeping an eye on multiple cameras on and off the ball.
So the incident would have been checked by VAR - but the VAR didn't feel the need to delay the match while a more in-depth assessment was made, and a recommendation to the referee.
If the VAR doesn't recommend to overturn a decision (or for the referee to conduct an on-field review, depending how VAR is implemented in the various leagues - I know some leagues allow the VAR to recommend a decision rather than use on-field review), that shouldn't be taken as an indication that the VAR supports the decision. The threshold for VAR review - 'Clear and Obvious Error' - is quite high. The VAR may hold the opinion that a particular decision may be a error, but not necessarily a clear and obvious error.
For me, the decision being discussed here is the sort of one that no matter what was given, VAR intervention wouldn't be warranted.