Video Assistant Referee in soccer: A Scoping Review

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is a technology that is changing the behavior of referees, players, managers, and fans in soccer. This scoping review mapped the studies on the use of VAR in soccer. An electronic database searching was performed in November 2020 using Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies that analyzed field referees or video assistants and addressed professional field soccer were eligible. Studies' characteristics were extracted and summarized. An initial search found 346 potentially relevant titles; six of them followed all eligibility criteria, providing information on VAR in high-performance men's soccer competitions held in 18 countries. There was a multiplicity of variables analyzed in the primary studies, mainly quantitative approaches of the VAR effects on game parameters, as follows: Decision-making process (n=4), game time (n=3); goals (n=5); offside (n=4); yellow and red card application (n=3); fouls (n=2); penalties (n=3); and VAR incidents (n=2). In general, primary studies have indicated that VAR can significantly enhance the accuracy of referees' decision-making, as well as having had a positive influence on the game's outcome. However, some negative aspects have been observed, such as a reduction in effective playing time and limited training for referees. Studies on VAR in soccer are still in their initial stages, and research priorities were highlighted to help future research and practice on VAR in soccer.