VAR check vs review: who makes the final decision?
A video check does not itself change a goal or prove a referee mistake.
A check is not a new score
The retrieved IFAB VAR protocol describes assistance for reviewable decisions and incidents. A check of an apparent goal is part of that process, not a separate goal to add or proof that the initial decision is wrong.
The referee must make an initial decision. Allowing play to continue can itself be that decision; the protocol does not permit simply giving no decision and asking VAR to supply one.
The referee owns the ruling
Only the referee can initiate a review. VAR and other match officials can recommend one. The referee makes the final decision either from VAR information or after an on-field review.
A referee going to the monitor is therefore not a guarantee that a goal will be cancelled. They still have to decide after examining the relevant evidence. The score should reflect the final reported ruling, not the act of walking to the screen.
There is no fixed review deadline
IFAB says there is no time limit for the review process because accuracy matters more than speed. A long check alone cannot prove an error or a predetermined outcome.
Competition use and reviewable categories must be checked against the current protocol. This guide explains the decision process without claiming every foul can be reviewed, promising a review length or interpreting unseen replay angles. On ScoreZaap, treat the pending event as pending until the confirmed decision arrives.