VAR: Ask Me Anything team answer your questions

Since the start of the 2020-21 Premier League season, assistant referees have been advised to keep their flag down if they feel there is an immediate scoring opportunity.

Once a goal is scored, or the threat of a goalscoring opportunity is over, the official will signal if they believe there was an offside in the build-up.

International Football Association Board (IFAB) protocol states: “If an assistant referee delays a flag for an offence, the assistant referee must raise the flag if the attacking team scores a goal, is awarded a penalty kick, free-kick, corner kick or throw-in, or retains possession of the ball after the initial attack has ended.”

If an offside call was upheld by VAR, a free-kick would be given to the defending team because the assistant’s flag and the resulting referee’s whistle would have stopped play at that point.

Without the assistant’s flag, there is an opportunity for a decision to be made in favour of the attacking team, because play was not halted by an on-field decision.