VAR: Red cards

14 Aug 2024
Premier League - Newcastle United v Fulham

All red cards awarded in the Premier League are automatically checked by the VAR.

The VAR also checks for possible red-card incidents for which the on-field referee has awarded a yellow card or no card at all.

The referee will confirm their decision to the VAR and what they have seen, the "Referee's Call".

If the evidence readily available to the VAR from the broadcast footage shows that the referee's on-field call is clearly and obviously wrong, the VAR can recommend the on-field referee goes to the pitchside monitor (RRA) to review.

The final decision will remain with the on-field referee.

If play has stopped and been restarted, the referee may not undertake a "review" except for a potential sending-off offence relating to violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s).

For incidents not captured by the match officials or VAR, The FA’s retrospective disciplinary process remains.

The VAR is NOT permitted within the VAR protocol to intervene for an incident where a second yellow card leads to a red card, unless the VAR believes the second yellow card should be upgraded to a direct red.

See also

VAR: Overview
VAR: Goals
VAR: Penalty decisions
VAR: Mistaken identity

Further VAR reading


Frequently Asked Questions