VAR is the Video Assistant Referee. In the Premier League, it is used only to correct clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents in 4 match-changing situations: goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and mistaken identity. The league has used VAR since 2019/20, and semi-automated offside technology since 12 April 2025.
What VAR covers in the Premier League
VAR has a limited role. It does not re-referee every disputed moment, and it is not there for routine contact or minor judgement calls.
| Situation | What VAR can review |
|---|---|
| Goals | Whether a goal should stand |
| Penalty decisions | Whether a penalty should be awarded or cancelled |
| Direct red-card incidents | Whether a direct red-card decision contains a clear error |
| Mistaken identity | Whether the referee has sanctioned the wrong player |
The threshold matters as much as the category. The system is reserved for clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents, so the on-field referee remains the central decision-maker.
How VAR arrived in the Premier League
The route into the Premier League was gradual. IFAB approved trials of video assistance in 2016, then allowed the use of VARs on 3 March 2018. After testing during 2018/19, Premier League clubs voted unanimously in November 2018 to bring VAR in from 2019/20.
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 3 March 2018 | IFAB allows the use of VARs |
| November 2018 | Premier League clubs vote unanimously for VAR from 2019/20 |
| 2019/20 | VAR used in the Premier League for the first time |
| 2021/22 | Thicker lines for marginal offsides; overlapping lines mean onside |
| 12 April 2025 | Semi-automated offside technology introduced |
| 2025/26 | Referees announce VAR review outcomes to the stadium |
In July 2020, IFAB transferred responsibility for VAR to FIFA.
How offside decisions work
Offside is the most technical part of Premier League VAR. The process relies on calibrated cameras rather than whichever broadcast angle looks most convenient on screen.
- Five cameras are calibrated for offside decisions at each match.
- They are the main wide camera, both 18-yard box cameras and both goalline cameras.
- From 2021/22, for marginal offsides, the VAR adds thicker broadcast lines after the one-pixel lines.
- Where those thicker lines overlap, the player is judged onside.
Semi-automated offside and stadium announcements
Semi-automated offside technology changed the workflow for offside checks, not the law itself. Premier League clubs voted unanimously on 11 April 2024 to introduce it, and it first appeared in the competition on Saturday 12 April 2025 after non-live testing and live use in the FA Cup.
From 2025/26, referees also announce the outcome of VAR reviews over the stadium PA system. Factual offside decisions are excluded from those announcements, so that part of the process remains separate.
FAQ
Does the Premier League have VAR?
Yes. VAR has been part of the Premier League since 2019/20 and is used in league matches under a defined set of review categories.
When did VAR start in the Premier League?
It started in 2019/20. The league tested the system during 2018/19, and clubs then voted unanimously in November 2018 to introduce it.
What can VAR overturn in the Premier League?
Its reach is limited to 4 match-changing situations: goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and mistaken identity. Even inside those categories, the standard is a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident.
What is semi-automated offside technology?
It is a technical system used for offside decisions, first introduced in the Premier League on 12 April 2025. It supports the offside-check process rather than replacing every part of VAR.