How does video replay work in taekwondo?
I · Intermediate · Knock downs, replay and entry · 6 of 7The coach raises a blue or red card and tells the referee what they want reviewed. A review jury watches the video and answers within 30 seconds. Each coach has one appeal a contest and keeps it if the appeal succeeds. Points that the electronic system gave or did not give for kicks cannot be appealed.
How it works
- Who asks: the coach, to the centre referee.
- What can be reviewed: a fall, a boundary crossing, an attack after "Kal-yeo" or an attack on a fallen opponent that went unpenalised.
- Also: a technical point, any penalty against the coach's own athlete, points not cancelled after a gam-jeom and a punch credited to the wrong athlete.
- Not reviewable: points scored by the electronic system for punches or kicks to the trunk or kicks to the head.
- Head kicks: the coach may ask only where the conventional head protector is in use.
- How far back: one action "within five (5) seconds from the moment of the coach's request".
- The quota: one appeal for each contest, unless the Technical Delegate sets another number.
- Kept on success: if the appeal succeeds, the coach keeps it.
- The decision: final, with no protest after the contest.
- The referee's own reviews: in the last five seconds of a round for possible gam-jeom, and for a head kick that the system missed after a count.
- The technical card: for a fault in the clock, the system or the operator's entries. If no fault is found, the coach's athlete gets a gam-jeom.
- Team competition: no video replay.
The glossary has the instant video replay, the protector and scoring system, the corner judges, gam-jeom, the referee and the turning kick.
Tricky cases
A coach thinks a body kick landed but the protector gave nothing. Can they appeal?
No. Appeals are not admissible on points by kicks or punches to the trunk protector.
A coach's first appeal succeeds. Can they appeal again later?
Yes. The coach retains the appeal right for that contest.
A coach raises the card, then changes their mind. Is the appeal used?
Yes. Once the card is raised, the appeal is treated as used, unless a meeting of the judges settles the matter.
The operator enters a gam-jeom against the wrong athlete. Does the coach need to spend the appeal?
No. That is a matter for the technical card. Any of the officials may also ask for a review to correct it during the round.
Why the rule exists
One appeal makes a coach save it for the call that matters, and giving it back after a correct appeal means a coach is never punished for being right. Sensor decisions are kept out because there is nothing on video that could overrule a pressure reading.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard events | One appeal a contest | WT Article 21.6 |
| By the Technical Delegate | The quota may be changed for the event | WT Article 21.6 |
| Conventional head protector | Coach may appeal an unscored head kick | WT Article 21.1 (vi); 21.2 |
| No replay system | A written protest within 10 minutes with a fee of US$200 | WT Article 21.11 |
| Team competition | No video replay | WT Article 22.3.5 |
From the rule book
World Taekwondo, Competition Rules & Interpretation (in force 1 June 2026), Article 21. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WT Competition Rules & Interpretation, 1 June 2026 (PDF).