Question Number: 34452

Mechanics 12/15/2021

Crebs Crem of Zagreb, Croatia asks...

Hello,
I want to ask, what would happen if a head referee starts a VAR review for an incident which is not related to a goal, penalty, red card or a mistaken identity? For example, the head referee gave a free kick for the attacking team in a position which can be very promising in terms of scoring. However, the head referee could not be sure about the foul and started a VAR review. In the end, VAR and the head referee decided there is no foul and restarted the game with a dropped ball and the play went on. In this case, what would happen? Will the match be played again since the action that the referee take doesn’t have any valid explanation?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Crebs
Part of the training on VAR involves instruction on the technology and also what can and cannot be reviewed.
As you rightly point out reviews are limited to four categories of match-changing decisions/incidents:
# Goals
# Penalty/ no penalty decisions
# Direct red cards (not 2nd yellow cards)
# Mistaken identity

To answer your question IFAB has stated that a match is not invalidated because of:
# malfunction(s) of the VAR technology (as for goal line technology (GLT)
# wrong decision(s) involving the VAR (as the VAR is a match official)
# decision(s) not to review an incident
# review(s) of a non-reviewable situation.

So in your scenario bullet point 4 covers it. The referee's decision cannot be protested. In reality with so many involved in the VAR process it is highly unlikely that such a decision could be made in error yet if it was reviewed and shown to be a no foul situation I doubt many would challenge that anyway. A protest would be futile.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Merry Christmas Crebs always a pleasure to hear from you.
As my colleague has detailed the VAR conditions for review lets just say that with the combined knowlege if so many experianced eyes watching one might think there can be very little to go wrong but Mursphys law if something can it will. The LOTG are pretty clear about the responsibilities of officials. Referees are not held liable for a mistake or error in judgment unless their actions are contrary to the stated LOTG solutions, although their respect level and character might take a knock. I hold the opinion, that VAR actually creates its own set of issues as referee begin to rely on others to make the decision rather than take the responsibility of being wrong.

The grass root referee has no way of figuring what might have been, he or she goes with only what they can see! I think its a far superior way to referee a match, the self doubt & pressure the elites have to endure appears mindboggling at times given the scrutiny they are under. If you referee as a single official try using this simple premise, Hi "I am not perfect but I give a full effort to get into the best positions to see & call only what I know for sure. If I do have ARs, add my ARS are 100% offlimits to ANY BS . You have issues you tell me in an appropriate tone and at a proper time!

Players and coaches generally respond favoutably to any official who puts forth an honest effort and is candid with their remarks and actions. Having the character to grasp we do not see eveything thus havng LIMITED compassion for the emotions experianced by non neutral beings , the courage to make the difficult call as well as the humility to admit an occassional mistake .

Cheers