Argentina trailed Morocco 2-0 before seemingly earning a draw by scoring an equalizer in the 16th minute of second-half stoppage time. But nearly two hours later, the goal-scorer was deemed to be offsides by VAR technology. The game resumed for the final few minutes with no fans in the stands as Morocco held on for a 2-1 win.VAR stands for video assistant referee.
Referees are able to head to an on-field booth near the tunnel to view replays of the incident through multiple angles and slow motion to review calls. In 2018, the International Football Association Board approved trials before it was used in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Though VAR entered the sport to help boost accuracy levels, it’s nearly impossible for the rate to be 100% due to the subjectivity of certain calls. Before the 2018-19 season, the percentage of correct match decisions was 82%.