How VAR works: four reviewable decisions and why referees still get it wrong
VAR is not a second referee. It may only touch four categories of decision, and that limit explains most controversies.
Every week one VAR call sparks a national debate, and the debate is almost never about technology but about authority.
The IFAB protocol limits VAR to four categories, and within them only to clear and obvious errors.
The four reviewable categories
Goals, penalties, direct red cards, and mistaken identity only.
What clear and obvious means
A deliberately high threshold, judged subjectively, which is where inconsistency comes from.
Who speaks and who decides
The VAR team recommends; the on-field referee decides and may decline.
Why offside still feels unfair
It is the most mathematical call in football, and precision makes centimetres decisive.
Impact on the game
Five to seven extra minutes per match, and lower satisfaction despite fewer factual errors.
Conclusion
The problem is communication, not accuracy.