VAR started in the Premier League in the 2019–20 season. Its first use came on August 9, 2019, when Liverpool hosted Norwich City in the league’s opening match.
The system had been tested in other competitions before that debut, but this was the first Premier League season with live VAR reviews. Here’s what prompted its introduction, which decisions it can review, and how the process works during a match.
When did var start in football premier league?
The Premier League introduced the Video Assistant Referee system, known as VAR, at the start of the 2019–20 season. Its first match was Liverpool against Norwich City at Anfield on August 9, 2019. Liverpool won 4–1.
Before then, Premier League referees did not have live video assistance during league matches. The league had carried out trials and preparations, but the 2019–20 campaign marked the first season in which VAR was used in its matches.
VAR was not new to football worldwide. It had been used in other competitions before the Premier League adopted it, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Premier League’s decision was part of a wider move toward video review, but each competition had to choose whether and how to introduce the system.
Why the Premier League brought in VAR
The basic aim was to reduce the impact of clear and important refereeing errors. A missed offside in a goal build-up, for example, can change a match even if the referee and assistants have only a brief view of the play. Video review gives match officials another angle and the chance to check key incidents.
VAR was not designed to re-referee every moment or remove judgment from the match. It was introduced as support for the on-field referee in a limited set of situations. The referee remains responsible for the final decision, whether that call is made after a review or stands without one.
That distinction matters. A video assistant is not meant to intervene simply because another official might have made a different call. Under the protocol, intervention is generally for a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident in one of the reviewable categories.
What decisions can VAR review?
The system is limited to four types of match-changing decisions. A review can concern an incident the referee did not see, as well as a decision that may have been made incorrectly.
- Goals and incidents leading to a goal: Officials check whether the ball crossed the line and can review relevant attacking incidents, such as offside, a foul, or handball in the build-up.
- Penalty decisions: VAR can check whether a penalty should have been awarded or whether a penalty decision should be overturned.
- Direct red cards: Officials can review a possible sending-off or check whether a direct red card was wrongly given. A second yellow card is not independently reviewable under the standard VAR categories.
- Mistaken identity: VAR can help when the referee penalizes or sanctions the wrong player.
These categories set the boundaries for the review. A questionable corner, an ordinary free kick, or a yellow-card decision will not usually be reviewed by VAR unless the incident connects to one of the specified situations.
How a VAR review works during a match
VAR checks eligible incidents in the background, even when play continues without an obvious stoppage. If the assistant video referee spots a possible serious mistake, the officials communicate with the referee. The referee can then accept the information or review footage at the pitchside monitor, depending on the incident.
- The incident is checked. The video team reviews the relevant footage and camera angles. Many routine checks happen quickly and do not require the referee to stop play.
- The VAR contacts the referee if needed. If the video team thinks a clear error or serious missed incident may have occurred, it recommends a review or supplies information for the referee to consider.
- The referee makes or confirms the decision. For a subjective call, the referee may watch the footage at the monitor. For a factual matter, such as the position of a player in an offside decision, the referee may receive the information without watching the screen.
- The decision is communicated. The referee signals a review when going to the monitor, then indicates the outcome. The match restarts according to the final ruling.
Watching footage does not automatically mean the original decision will change. The referee may review an incident and decide the call on the field was correct. The video assistant provides evidence; the referee still makes the final call.
Who is in the VAR room?
VAR uses a team of match officials working with video feeds. The VAR leads the review and communicates with the referee. An assistant video assistant referee, often called the AVAR, helps monitor the match and can support the review process. Replay operators locate and provide the relevant camera footage.
In the Premier League, video officials work from a central video operation room at Stockley Park in England rather than sitting in the stadium. They can access available broadcast camera angles and communicate with the on-field referee through the match’s communication system. The setup lets the video team review incidents while the referee remains on the pitch.
That remote location does not change who has authority over the decision. The referee on the field remains the match’s lead official. The VAR can recommend a review and share information, but cannot simply replace the referee’s judgment with a separate ruling.
VAR check, referee review, and goal-line technology
People often use “VAR check” and “VAR review” as if they mean the same thing, but they describe different stages. A check can take place without a visible interruption. A review is more noticeable and may involve the referee watching footage at the monitor.
| Term or system | What it does | Best way to understand it |
|---|---|---|
| VAR check | Video officials assess an eligible incident, often while play carries on. | A background check; it may not lead to a stoppage. |
| Referee review | The referee considers video footage, often at the pitchside monitor. | A visible review, commonly used for decisions involving judgment. |
| Goal-line technology | Determines whether the entire ball crossed the goal line. | A separate system for a specific yes-or-no question. |
Goal-line technology and VAR are not interchangeable. Goal-line technology gives a rapid answer about whether the ball fully crossed the line. VAR covers a wider but defined range of incidents, such as offside in a goal sequence or a possible penalty.
A useful detail many viewers miss is that a VAR check can happen even when the broadcast does not show a review graphic or the referee does not visit the monitor. The system can confirm that a goal or decision is valid without a lengthy interruption. No screen visit does not necessarily mean no check took place.
How VAR handles offside and close calls
Offside reviews can involve a factual question: was an attacking player in an offside position when a teammate played the ball? Officials use the footage and available lines or tracking tools to assess the relevant positions. If the player was offside and became involved in play, the goal can be ruled out.
The law also requires more than simply standing in an offside position. The player must become involved in active play in a way covered by the offside law. For example, an official may need to judge whether the player interfered with an opponent or gained an advantage from the position. That can make some reviews less straightforward than drawing a line.
Close calls can be frustrating because the image shown to viewers may make the margin look extremely small. Camera perspective, the selected frame, and the point at which the ball was played can all affect what the review establishes. The important practical point is that a televised still is not necessarily the full evidence used by match officials.
What VAR changed for fans and players
VAR changed the rhythm of some matches. Players may wait before celebrating a goal because officials are checking the build-up. A possible penalty or red-card review can also pause play, which affects momentum and can leave spectators waiting for an explanation.
At the same time, the system can correct certain high-impact errors that would otherwise stand. That does not mean every decision becomes obvious or that all disputes disappear. Many football decisions involve judgment, and different viewers can interpret the same footage differently.
The most accurate way to think about VAR is as a limited review process, not a promise of perfect decisions. It can provide more evidence, but it cannot remove every uncertainty or make subjective calls universally popular. The rules restrict when the video team should intervene, while the referee retains responsibility for the final decision.
Common misunderstandings about Premier League VAR
“VAR reviews every decision”
It does not. The system checks incidents within its permitted categories, but it is not there to reconsider every foul, throw-in, corner, or booking. A call can be debatable without qualifying for a video review.
“The referee must go to the monitor”
That is not always necessary. The referee may receive factual information from the VAR, such as the result of an offside check, and act on it without watching the footage personally. A monitor review is more useful when the referee needs to assess a subjective judgment.
“The VAR makes the final decision”
The referee on the pitch has final authority. VAR can recommend a review and provide footage or information, but it does not take over the match’s decision-making role.
“A long check means the call will be overturned”
Review time alone does not reveal the outcome. Officials may need to find the correct footage, check several angles, or assess the exact point of an incident. A check can end with the original decision confirmed.
How to follow a VAR decision as a viewer
When a review happens, first identify which category is being checked. Is it a goal, a penalty, a possible direct red card, or mistaken identity? That helps explain why officials are reviewing the incident and whether a monitor visit is likely.
Next, separate the factual question from the judgment call. Offside position is often treated as a factual matter, although involvement in play can require interpretation. Whether contact was enough for a penalty is more dependent on the referee’s assessment of the footage and the laws of the game.
Finally, look for the referee’s signal and the restart. A review can confirm the on-field call, overturn it, or lead to a different decision after the footage is considered. The broadcast replay can help explain the moment, but the official outcome is the referee’s decision communicated during the match.
The system’s purpose is narrow: give officials another tool for a few decisive incidents, without turning every passage of play into a video stoppage. Knowing its start date and limits makes the process easier to follow, even when a particular call remains controversial.
when did var start in football premier league? The short answer is the 2019–20 season, beginning with Liverpool versus Norwich City on August 9, 2019. VAR reviews only specified match-changing incidents, and the on-field referee keeps final authority.
Next time a review interrupts a match, note whether it concerns a goal, penalty, direct red card, or mistaken identity. That one check will help you understand why VAR is involved and what the officials are deciding.