UEFA Champions League VAR technical explanations

During the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, selected VAR technical explanations will be published on this page.

These explanations are prepared by the refereeing experts on duty and, for significant situations, accompanied by images or video to help clarify and enhance understanding of the officiating decisions.

Knockout phase play-offs, second leg: Juventus vs Galatasaray (25/02/2026)

48' Decision overturned: Red card

Juventus player, No6, using his studs made a strong unfair contact with the opponent's left ankle which clearly endangered the safety of his opponent.

Knockout phase play-offs, second leg: Real Madrid vs Benfica (25/02/2026)

35' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Real Madrid player, No16, was in an offside position and played the ball in the build-up to the goal.

Knockout phase play-offs, second leg: Atalanta vs Dortmund (25/02/2026)

90+1' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

B. Dortmund player, No5, committed a reckless foul while attempting to play the ball.

Knockout phase play-offs, first leg: Olympiacos vs Leverkusen (18/02/2026)

45+1' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Olympiacos player, No99, was in an offside position and scored the goal.

Knockout phase play-offs, first leg: Club Brugge vs Atleti (18/02/2026)

8' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Club Brugge player, No65, touched the ball with his right arm, which was in an unnatural position and away from the body.

90+1' Decision overturned: Goal given

Club Brugge player, No8, was in an onside position before scoring the goal.

Knockout phase play-offs, first leg: Qarabağ vs Newcastle (18/02/2026)

32' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Qarabağ player, No2, touched the ball with his left arm, which was in an unnatural position and away from the body.

57' Decision overturned: Goal given

Qarabağ player, No44, was in an onside position before scoring the goal.

Knockout phase play-offs, first leg: Monaco vs Paris (17/02/2026)

48' Decision overturned: Red card

Monaco player, No10, using his studs made a strong unfair contact with the opponent's right leg which clearly endangered the safety of his opponent.

Matchday 8: Barcelona vs Copenhagen (28/01/2026)

90+1' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Copenhagen player, No6, was in an offside position and clearly impacted on the ability of the opponent to play the ball, with physical contact and interfering his movements.

Matchday 8: Athletic Club vs Sporting CP (28/01/2026)

81' Decision overturned: No penalty

Athletic Club player, No19, played the ball in a fair manner before the contact between players.

Matchday 8: Ajax vs Olympiacos (28/01/2026)

68' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Olympiacos player, No96, touched the ball with his right arm, which was in an unnatural position and away from the body.

Matchday 8: Benfica vs Real Madrid (28/01/2026)

18' Decision overturned: No penalty

Real Madrid player, No5, played the ball in a fair manner before the contact between players.

Matchday 8: Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty (28/01/2026)

7' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Arsenal player, No33, held an opponent from the back.

39' Decision overturned: Goal given

Arsenal player, No29, was in an onside position in the build-up to the goal.

88' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Arsenal player, No9, was in an offside position and scored the goal.

Matchday 8: Paris vs Newcastle (28/01/2026)

4' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Newcastle player, No67, deliberately touched the ball, making a clear movement towards the ball with his right hand.

Matchday 7: Bayern München vs Union SG (21/01/2026)

80' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Union SG's player, No6, touched the ball with his right arm, which was away from the body.

Matchday 7: Juventus vs Benfica (21/01/2026)

81' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Juventus' player, No3, tripped an opponent while attempting to play the ball.

Matchday 7: Marseille vs Liverpool (21/01/2026)

23' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Liverpool's player, No22, was in an offside position and scored the goal.

Matchday 7: Newcastle vs PSV (21/01/2026)

11' Decision confirmed: Goal confirmed

Newcastle's player, No9, did not clearly impact on the ability of the opponent to play the ball.

Matchday 7: Copenhagen vs Napoli (20/01/2026)

36' Decision overturned: Red Card

Copenhagen's player, No27, using his studs made a strong unfair contact with the opponent's left knee which clearly endangered the safety of his opponent.

Matchday 7: Sporting CP vs Paris (20/01/2026)

33' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Paris' player, No24, tripped an opponent while attempting to play the ball in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 7: Tottenham vs B. Dortmund (20/01/2026)

27' Decision overturned: Red Card

B. Dortmund's player, No24, using his studs made a strong unfair contact with the opponent's left leg which clearly endangered the safety of his opponent.

Matchday 6: Real Madrid vs Man City (10/12/2025)

4' Decision overturned: No penalty

Man City's player, No27, committed the foul outside the penalty area.

43' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Real Madrid's player, No22, held an opponent from the back.

Matchday 6: Inter vs Liverpool (09/12/2025)

88' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Inter's player, No95, pulled an opponent from the back.

Matchday 6: Union SG vs Marseille (09/12/2025)

78' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Union SG's player, No6, was in an offside position and scored the goal.

Matchday 6: Monaco vs Galatasaray (09/12/2025)

50' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Galatasaray's player, No6, tripped an opponent while attempting to play the ball.

Matchday 6: Inter vs Liverpool (09/12/2025)

37' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Liverpool's player, No22, touched the ball with his left arm, which was in an unnatural position, out of the body in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 6: Atalanta vs Chelsea (09/12/2025)

27' Decision overturned: Goal given

Chelsea's player, No24, was in an onside position in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 5: Paris vs Tottenham (26/11/2025)

90+1' Decision overturned: Red card

Paris' player, No21, deliberately struck an opponent with excessive force to the head with his left elbow.

Matchday 5: Olympiacos vs Real Madrid (26/11/2025)

34' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Real Madrid's player, No10, was in an offside position and played the ball in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 5: Atleti vs Inter (26/11/2025)

12' Decision overturned: Goal given

Ball did not touch right arm of Atleti's player, No10, in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 5: Sporting CP vs Club Brugge (26/11/2025)

12' Decision overturned: Yellow card

Sporting CP's player, No42, challenged an opponent in a reckless manner, without excessive force and not endangering the safety of the opponent.

Matchday 5: Copenhagen vs Kairat Almaty (26/11/2025)

59' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Kairat Almaty's player, No4, deliberately touched the ball, making a clear movement towards the ball with his left arm.

Matchday 5: Chelsea vs Barcelona (25/11/2025)

73' Decision overturned: Goal given

Chelsea's player, No8, was in an onside position in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 5: Dortmund vs Villarreal (25/11/2025)

50' Penalty confirmed: Red card

Villarreal's player, No8, committed a deliberate handball offence denying the opposing team a goal.

Matchday 5: Bodø/Glimt vs Juventus (25/11/2025)

56' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Juventus's player, No20, was in an offside position and played the ball in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 4: Club Brugge vs Barcelona (05/11/2025)

73' Decision overturned: No penalty

Barcelona's player, No3, challenged the ball in a fair manner without fouling the opponent.

90+1' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Club Brugge's player, No17, tripped the goalkeeper while attempting to play the ball before scoring the goal.

Matchday 4: Marseille vs Atalanta (05/11/2025)

72' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Atalanta's player, No90, was in an offside position and played the ball in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 4: Ajax vs Galatasaray (05/11/2025)

65' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Ajax's player, No15, touched the ball with his right arm, which was in an unnatural position away from the body and making his body bigger.

Matchday 4: Inter vs Kairat Almaty (05/11/2025)

21' Decision overturned: No Penalty

Inter's player, No31, committed a foul.

Matchday 4: Bodø/Glimt vs Monaco (04/11/2025)

83' Decision overturned: Red card

Bodø/Glimt's player, No6, using his studs, made a strong unfair contact with the opponent's right ankle which clearly endangered the safety of his opponent.

Matchday 4: Tottenham vs Copenhagen (04/11/2025)

58' Decision overturned: Red card

Tottenham's player, No22, using his studs, made a strong unfair contact with the opponent's left ankle which clearly endangered the safety of his opponent.

Matchday 4: Atleti vs Union SG (04/11/2025)

45+1' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Atleti's player, No10, was in an offside position and played the ball in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 4: Liverpool vs Real Madrid (04/11/2025)

34' No penalty: No handball offence

The ball touched the left arm of Real Madrid's player, No14, which was close to the body in a natural position.

Matchday 4: Paris vs Bayern München (04/11/2025)

25' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Paris's player, No10, was in an offside position and scored the goal.

45+7' Decision overturned: Red card

Bayern München's player, No14, using excessive force, made a strong unfair contact with the opponent's leg which clearly endangered the safety of the opponent.

Matchday 4: Slavia Praha vs Arsenal (04/11/2025)

32' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Slavia Praha's player, No17, touched the ball with his left hand, which was in an unnatural position above the shoulder and making his body bigger.

88' Decision overturned: No penalty

Arsenal's player, No4, challenged for the ball in a fair manner without fouling the opponent.

Matchday 3: Sporting CP vs Marseille (22/10/2025)

45+1' Decision overturned: No penalty

Marseille's player, No33, was guilty of simulation.

72' Decision overturned: Goal given

Sporting CP's player, No10, was in an onside position before scoring the goal.

90+1' Decision overturned: Yellow card

Sporting CP's player, No20, did not strike an opponent with his head - he was guilty of unsporting behaviour.

Matchday 3: Chelsea vs Ajax (22/10/2025)

18' Decision overturned: Red card

Ajax's player, No8, using his studs, made a strong unfair contact with the opponent's right leg which clearly endangered the safety of his opponent.

Matchday 3: Union SG vs Inter (21/10/2025)

53' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Union SG's player, No5, touched the ball with his right hand, which was in an unnatural position above the shoulder and making his body bigger.

Matchday 3: Leverkusen vs Paris (21/10/2025)

34' Decision overturned: Red Card

Leverkusen's player, No8, struck an opponent in the face with his left elbow.

Matchday 3: Kairat Almaty vs Pafos (21/10/2025)

75' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Pafos' player, No30, was in an offside position and played the ball in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 3: Barcelona vs Olympiacos (21/10/2025)

53' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Olympiacos' goal disallowed by offside. Before, Barcelona's player, No24, touched the ball with his right arm which was in an unnatural position.

68' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Olympiacos' player, No88, tripped an opponent while attempting to play the ball.

Matchday 2: Monaco vs Man City (01/10/2025)

90' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Man City's player, No14, kicked an opponent in the head while attempting to play the ball.

Matchday 2: Leverkusen vs PSV (01/10/2025)

7' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

PSV's player, No5, was in an offside position and scored the goal.

Matchday 2: Union SG vs Newcastle (01/10/2025)

64' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Union SG's player, No48, touched the ball with his right arm, which was in an unnatural position and away from the body.

Matchday 2: Galatasaray vs Liverpool (30/09/2025)

90+1' Decision overturned: No penalty

Galatasaray's player, No90, played the ball in a fair manner before the contact between players.

Matchday 2: Atleti vs Frankfurt (30/09/2025)

69' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Atleti's player, No7, touched the ball with his right arm immediately before scoring the goal.

82' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Frankfurt's player, No5, touched the ball with his right hand, which was away from the body.

Matchday 2: Bodø/Glimt vs Tottenham (30/09/2025)

58' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed

Tottenham's player, No37, pulled an opponent from the back in the build-up to the goal.

Matchday 2: Kairat Almaty vs Real Madrid (30/09/2025)

70' Decision overturned: No penalty

Real Madrid's player, No19, did not commit a foul on the opponent.

Matchday 1: Man City vs Napoli (18/09/2025)

22' Decision overturned: Red card

Napoli's player, No22, tripped his opponent denying him an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Matchday 1: Bayern München vs Chelsea (17/09/2025)

90+1' Decision overturned: Goal disallowed - offside

Chelsea's player, No10, was in an offside position and scored the goal.

Matchday 1: Paris vs Atalanta (17/09/2025)

44' Decision overturned: Penalty - foul.

Atalanta's player, No6, stepped on the opponent's ankle in a reckless manner.

Matchday 1: Liverpool vs Atleti (17/09/2025)

37' Decision overturned: Penalty cancelled - no handball offence.

Ball did not touch arm of Atleti's player, No15.

Matchday 1: Ajax vs Inter (17/09/2025)

37' Decision overturned: Penalty cancelled - foul.

Inter's player, No9, pulled an opponent before the penalty incident.

Matchday 1: Olympiacos vs Pafos (17/09/2025)

73' Decision overturned: Rescinded red card - yellow card

Olympiacos' player, No99, challenged an opponent in a reckless manner, without excessive force and not endangering the safety of the opponent.

Matchday 1: Slavia Praha vs Bodø/Glimt (17/09/2025)

41' No penalty: Attacking foul

Slavia Praha's player, No25, pushed an opponent from the back before the handball incident.

53' Decision overturned: Penalty awarded

Slavia Praha's player, No12, tripped an opponent while attempting to play the ball.

Matchday 1: Real Madrid vs Marseille (16/09/2025)

72' Decision overturned: Red card

Real Madrid's player, No2, deliberately struck an opponent's face with his head when the ball was not in play.