How does VAR work at the World Cup? What is semi-automated offside and how is it being used?

Four years after making its World Cup debut, Video Assistant Referee technology returned in Qatar.

VAR has become an integral part of football over the last five years and is used in most major leagues as well as European competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League. Its presence was felt at Russia 2018 as the number of penalties soared from 13 at the previous World Cup to a record 29.

FIFA confirmed that VAR and semi-automated offside technology would be in use at the World Cup in Qatar 2022. And It didn’t take long for the on-pitch drama to start at the tournament, with the first controversial decision coming inside three minutes of the first game.

Enner Valencia thought he had scored the quickest opening goal at a World Cup when he headed Ecuador in front against hosts Qatar.

However, it was disallowed - it was not immediately obvious why it was ruled out, but it was soon determined that Michael Estrada’s foot was in an offside position in the build-up.

"I don't think there's any person watching this in the world who thinks that this is offside," said former England striker Alan Shearer on the BBC.

On Monday 21 November there was controversy as England central defender Harry Maguire thought he was fouled from a set-piece against Iran. The referee went to the monitor to check the footage but decided it wasn't a penalty.

Confusingly on Tuesday 22 November Argentina's Leandro Paredes was fouled in a similar fashion against Saudi Arabia but it arguably looked softer than the Maguire incident. HOWEVER this one was awarded (and converted by Lionel Messi) upon review by the referee.

In that same match there were multiple semi-automated offsides denying Argentina the opportunity to further extend their lead after Messi gave them the lead with a penalty. It moved Messi on to seven goals at the World Cup, level with his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Argentina would go on to lose the match 2-1.

In the final minute of added time in Denmark's 0-0 draw against Tunisia, Yassine Mariah appeared to handle the ball in the box as he was clearing away a corner, but referee Cesar Arturo Ramos decided not to award Denmark a spot-kick after reviewing the footage at the monitor.

Friday 25 November saw the semi-automated technology in play once again during Iran's 2-0 win over Wales as Ali Gholizadeh's close range finish in the first half was correctly ruled out.

Later in the match, Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was initially booked for a foul on Mehdi Taremi but after VAR intervention, referee Mario Escobar upgraded the punishment to a red and sent the stopper off.

When Poland took on Saudi Arabia on Saturday 26 November, referee Wilton Sampaio initially waved away Saudi protests when Saleh Al-Shehri went down under a challenge from Krystian Bielik, however, VAR intervened and the Asian side were awarded the spot kick.

To Polish relief, Wojciech Szczesny saved Salem Al-Dawsari's effort but VAR was needed a second time to determine whether the Juventus stopper have come off his line early, which it was ultimately decided he hadn't. Poland won the match 2-0.

On Sunday November 27, Morocco thought they'd taken the lead against Belgium when Hakim Ziyech's free kick evaded everybody to be beat Thibaut Courtois. However, after Cesar Ramos was called to the monitor, the Mexican referee decided that an offside Romain Saiss was interfering with play and chalked the goal off.

Later in the evening, Antonio Rudiger thought he had headed Germany 1-0 up in their eventual 1-1 draw with Spain. Although he wasn't flagged by the linesman, VAR determined he was in an offside position as Joshua Kimmich delivered his cross from a free kick.

Monday 28 November saw Cameroon and Serbia play out a thrilling 3-3 draw in which the African side battled back from 3-1 down thanks to substitute Vincent Aboubakar who scored and provided an assist. The striker's goal to reduce the deficit looked to be offisde and was flagged as such until the semi-automated system determined he was actually onside.

Brazil booked their place in the last 16 with a late 1-0 win over Switzerland but were denied a goal earlier in the match when the semi-automated VAR chalked off Vinicius Jr's goal for offside.

Portugal's second goal in their 2-0 win over Uruguay came courtesy of a VAR-influenced decision when Jose Maria Gimenez' handball while attempting to make a tackle was deemed illegal. Bruno Fernandes made no mistake from 12 yards.

On November 30, Tunisia exited the competition but managed to claim a historic win over the reigning champions France. They were almost denied in the dying moments however when Antione Griezmann thought he had equalised until VAR ruled he had come from an offside position before scoring.

Later that day, in Argentina's crunch match against Poland, VAR was again involved as the South Americans were awarded a penalty after it was deemed Wojciech Szczesny had fouled Lionel Messi as the latter attempted a header. Thankfully for Szczesny, he was able to save the resultant spot kick from Argentina's talisman.

On December 1, there was controversy when Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty to Croatia, only to overturn his own decision for an offside.

At first, it seemed strange that Taylor had been told by VAR to go to the monitor because usually the referee doesn’t for offside decisions.

However, a ruling that states if a player doesn’t touch the ball says the referee can look at the monitor. There was also confusion about a foul that happened at the same time, which Taylor didn’t watch back.

Perhaps the most controversial VAR intervention of the tournament came in Japan's 2-1 over Spain to see them top Group E and ultimately eliminate Germany. Kaoru Mitoma's cross for Ao Tanaka's winning goal looked to have initially gone out of play and was flagged as such by the linesman. However, the video officials couldn't say for certainty that the whole ball had crossed the line, meaning the goal was allowed to stand.

On December 2, Uruguay were eliminated on the goals scored tiebreaker despite beating Ghana 2-0 in their final game, but things could've been a lot different if they had been awarded a penalty in stoppage time.

Edinson Cavani went down in the box under a clumsy challenge from behind but the referee wasn't sent for a second look by VAR, and the Uruguayan players were furious at full-time as they fumed at the officials.

Yes, VAR will be utilised to check key decisions in Qatar, such as potential red cards, penalties and cases of mistaken identity.

As with the Premier League, referees will have an earpiece to consult with the VAR team and are be able to check decisions on pitchside monitors.

VAR will also monitor offside decisions, although things will be slightly different to the Premier League.

FIFA have approved the use of ‘limb-tracking offside technology’ at the World Cup which it is hoped will speed up the process of making offside decisions and offer greater clarity to supporters.

The technology has been undergoing trials for several years and was used at the Club World Cup early in 2022. The new technology works by using 12 tracking cameras around the stadium to track the ball, as well as data points of each player and a sensor inside the ball which sends data to the video operation room 500 times per second.

When a player receives the ball in an offside position the video match officials will be automatically alerted. Before telling the on-field referee the VAR team will manually check the decision, a process which, according to FIFA, “happens within a few seconds and means that offside decisions can be made faster and more accurately”.

The offside call will then be generated into a 3D animation and will be shown on screens around the stadium as well as being made available for broadcasters. It has been reported that offside decisions should only take longer than the average of 25 seconds if they involve multiple elements.

The sharp rise in penalties was one of the big talking points around VAR at the last World Cup.

On the third day of the tournament there were five penalties given across the course of just four games. France were also awarded a penalty in the final after the ball struck Ivan Perisic on the arm, a decision which was met with a mixed reaction.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was not impressed with the call, saying: “You don't give a penalty like that in a World Cup final."

Portugal defender Jose Fonte also labelled the use of VAR “unacceptable” after Portugal conceded a late penalty for handball against Iran.

FIFA said VAR contributed to 99.3 per cent of refereeing decisions being correct.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino: “At the FIFA World Cup in 2018, FIFA took the brave step to use VAR technology on the world’s biggest stage, and it has proven to be an undisputable success. Semi-automated offside technology is an evolution of the VAR systems that have been implemented across the world.

“This technology is the culmination of three years of dedicated research and testing to provide the very best for the teams, players and fans who will be heading to Qatar later this year, and FIFA is proud of this work, as we look forward to the world seeing the benefits of semi-automated offside technology at the FIFA World Cup 2022. FIFA is committed to harnessing technology to improve the game of football at all levels, and the use of semi-automated offside technology at the FIFA World Cup in 2022 is the clearest possible evidence.”

Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina: “The testing has been a major success and we are very confident that, in Qatar, we will have a very valuable support tool to help referees and assistant referees make the best and most correct decision on the field of play. I know that someone called it ‘robot offside’; it’s not. The referees and the assistant referees are still responsible for the decision on the field of play.”

The World Cup runs from November 20 to December 18.