The referee may receive assistance from the VAR only in relation to four categories of match-changing decisions/incidents. In all these situations, the VAR is only used after the referee has made a (first/original) decision (including allowing play to continue), or if a serious incident is missed/not seen by the match officials.
The referee`s original decision will not be changed unless there was a ‘clear and obvious error’ (this includes any decision made by the referee based on information from another match official e.g. offside).
The categories of decision/incident which may be reviewed in the event of a potential ‘clear and obvious error’ or ‘serious missed incident’ are:
a. Goal/no goal
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attacking team offence in the build-up to or scoring of the goal (handball, foul, offside etc.)
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ball out of play prior to the goal
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goal/no goal decisions
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offence by goalkeeper and/or kicker at the taking of a penalty kick or encroachment by an attacker or defender who becomes directly involved in play if the penalty kick rebounds from the goalpost, crossbar or goalkeeper
b. Penalty kick/no penalty kick
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attacking team offence in the build-up to the penalty incident (handball, foul, offside etc.)
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ball out of play prior to the incident
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location of offence (inside or outside the penalty area)
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penalty kick incorrectly awarded
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penalty kick offence not penalised
c. Direct red cards (not second yellow card/caution)
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DOGSO (especially position of offence and positions of other players)
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serious foul play (or reckless challenge)
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violent conduct, biting or spitting at another person
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using offensive, insulting or abusive gestures
d. Mistaken identity (red or yellow card)
If the referee penalises an offence and then gives the wrong player from the offending (penalised) team a yellow or red card, the identity of the offender can be reviewed; the actual offence itself cannot be reviewed unless it relates to a goal, penalty incident or direct red card.