Football terms explained: VAR, penalty shootouts, fourth officials and stoppage time

A football terms explainer has outlined how several familiar match-day concepts work, focusing on VAR, penalty shootouts, the fourth official and stoppage time. The discussion turns spoken, back-and-forth answers into clearer definitions for viewers still learning the language of the game.

VAR refers to the video assistant referee system. It is used when an on-field decision, or a decision the referee did not make, needs another look. Officials can review video of the incident before confirming whether the original call should stand or be changed.

A penalty shootout is separate from a regular penalty during normal play. It comes after a match finishes level, including after extra time. The score does not have to be 0-0; the teams could also be tied 3-3, 4-4 or by any other equal score. The shootout is then used to decide the winner.

The fourth official works from the touchline, alongside the main referee and the two assistant referees. That official helps manage the technical area, including telling coaches to remain inside the coaching box. The fourth official also handles substitutions by displaying the player coming off and the player going on. If the referee is injured and cannot continue, the fourth official can step in.

Stoppage time is the extra time added at the end of a half, most commonly after the second half. It accounts for time lost during play and allows the referee to extend the match before blowing for full time.