The Ref

The standard that VAR is supposed to use before overturning referee decisions. In theory, VAR should 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.

A goal awarded despite the ball not crossing the line, or denied when it clearly did. Before goal-line technology, these caused huge controversies. Lampard's shot against Germany in 2010 clearly crossed the line but wasn't given; Luis Garcia for Liverpool against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final in 2005; Geoff Hurst's 1966 World Cup final goal probably didn't cross but was given. Technology has mostly eliminated ghost goals, but the term lives on.

A player is sent off when given a red card, immediately removed from play. Given for serious fouls, violent conduct, spitting, stopping a clear goal with a foul or handball, or getting a second yellow card. Your team plays the rest of the match a man down and can't replace you. Usually comes with a ban for future games too. Going down to 10 men is a major disadvantage, though some teams have won despite it.

When VAR rules a player offside by millimetres, usually because their armpit or sleeve is beyond the last defender. The technology can draw lines to this precision, but it feels absurd to disallow goals for body parts you can't even score with. Fans mock it, but it's technically correct under the rules. Led to calls to give attackers the benefit of the doubt.

Leaving the ground with both feet to make a challenge. It's dangerous and usually a red card, regardless of whether you get the ball. The force and lack of control make serious injury likely. Some old-school players complain the game has gone soft, but there's no good reason to tackle with both feet up. It's reckless by definition.