Momcilo Markovic serves as assistant VAR for Manchester United against Sabah

Serbian referee Momcilo Markovic was appointed as an assistant in the VAR team for Manchester United's Champions League match against Sabah. French referee Jerome Brisard led the video team, with Willy Delajod as the referee on the field. The assignment placed Markovic inside a high-profile opening-round match at Old Trafford. Assistant VAR work is an important part of video review. It requires constant checking of the play before an incident, accurate communication and the discipline to intervene only when the competition rules support a review.

The assistant protects the accuracy of the complete review

The lead video referee communicates with the referee on the field, while the assistant follows additional camera angles and the earlier part of play. If the final incident is a possible penalty, the team may also need to check offside or a foul before the ball entered the area. One missed frame can change the meaning of the later contact. The assistant therefore keeps the process complete and helps the lead VAR reach a clear recommendation without losing time to repeated searches.

International teams need exact shared language

Markovic worked beside French referees in a match involving English and Azerbaijani clubs. The communication protocol must remain short and consistent regardless of the languages around the field. Each message should identify the incident, the check and the conclusion. Extra commentary can hide the key fact when the referee is waiting. Training for this role includes not only knowledge of the rules but also the ability to describe an image in the same terms used by the rest of the team.

A review without intervention can still be successful

Supporters notice video review most clearly when play stops and the referee visits the monitor. Many checks end without intervention because the available images support the original decision. That does not make the work unnecessary. A fast confirmation lets the match continue and protects confidence in the process. The quality of a referee cannot be measured by the number of times the screen is used. Accuracy, speed and the correct standard for intervention matter together.

Checking offside begins before the decisive pass

An assistant video referee may need to identify the exact moment when a player passes the ball and then compare the positions of attackers and defenders. The camera angle, relevant body part and position of the ball all matter. The process becomes harder when several players move across each other at speed. Preparation includes knowing the available cameras and following the likely path of the pass before the attack ends. Waiting until the goal is scored can make the search slower and increase the chance that the important frame is not immediately available.

The Old Trafford assignment carries professional value

A Champions League match places the officials under intense public and broadcast attention. That pressure cannot change the standard used for a decision. Markovic's value to the team comes from applying the same protocol he uses in other international fixtures. A famous stadium and a large audience make calm procedure more important, not less. The assignment also gives Serbian refereeing another direct connection to elite European competition and provides experience that can strengthen later domestic work.

Video support does not replace the referees on the field

The referee and assistants still make the first decisions and manage players in real time. VAR exists for clearly defined errors and serious missed incidents, not for reviewing every physical contact. The assistant video referee must respect that boundary. Intervening too often interrupts the match and changes responsibility, while remaining silent after clear evidence is also a failure. Good work requires the correct balance and a precise understanding of the competition's protocol.

The appointment offers a practical model for younger officials

A referee aiming for international video work needs reliable domestic performances, physical preparation, English communication and repeated technical training. The pathway is not built through one visible appointment. It grows from correct decisions in ordinary matches and consistent review-room discipline. Markovic's role in Manchester shows where that work can lead. The most useful lesson is professional routine: prepare every camera and protocol before kickoff, then treat each incident on its evidence rather than on the name of the club involved.