Tag
Refereeing
Refereeing
3 definitions
Video Assistant Referee - Technology system used to review referee decisions with video footage.
Introduced to reduce errors in crucial match decisions.
The referee is consulting VAR to check if that was offside.
The Gaffer
Feb 10, 2026
The standard that VAR is supposed to use before overturning referee decisions. In theory, only intervene if the original call was clearly wrong. In practice, nobody agrees on what's clear or obvious, especially for handball and soft penalties. The phrase has become a punchline for whenever VAR makes a controversial call that seems subjective rather than definitive.
Arsenal fans still argue about the "clear and obvious" standard after various controversial VAR decisions went against them - the phrase became a sarcastic response whenever the technology overturned or upheld questionable calls.
Robbie
Feb 6, 2026
Stands for "Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity." It's the official term referees use when a defender commits a foul that stops a clear chance on goal. If it happens inside the box, it's a penalty. The punishment used to be an automatic red card, but since 2016, if the foul is an honest attempt to play the ball inside the area, it's usually just a yellow. Outside the box? Still a straight red.
Luis Suárez's handball on the line against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal is the most infamous DOGSO of all time. He got sent off, Ghana missed the penalty, and Uruguay went through. The rules worked exactly as written, even if it felt like cheating.
Robbie
Jan 20, 2026