Video assistant referees will be able to make more decisions next season following a controversial decision by football’s lawmaker IFAB to increase their powers.
VAR has been given more powers (Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Football’s lawmakers are expanding VAR’s powers, which is sure to spark further controversy. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is fully committed to video assistant referees despite continued flashpoints and complaints.
Using VAR for corner checks will be an option in competitions from this summer, but core VAR protocols have now been expanded to also cover second yellow cards and cards awarded to the wrong team.
The IFAB also approved a series of measures to combat tactics aimed at disrupting the tempo of matches, to be implemented this summer. The successful introduction of the eight-second rule for goalkeepers means IFAB will further its efforts to stop players delaying games.
If the referee determines that a player throw-in or dead-ball goal kick takes too long, he is authorized to start a five-second countdown and substitutions must be completed within 10 seconds, otherwise he must rest the substitute for at least one minute.
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The IFAB also decided at its annual general meeting in Wales on Saturday that players who are forced to stop playing due to injury will be forced to stay off the field for at least one minute.
The Premier League is trialling a 30-second time limit, but some within the IFAB believe this is not long enough to be a deterrent. Other competitions have tested longer times, including two minutes at last year’s Arab Cup.
The aim of all the measures that will be adopted is to contribute not only to maintaining the tempo of the match, but also to reducing the additional time caused by interruptions, which are problematic from a player welfare point of view and from a supporter’s and broadcaster’s schedule point of view.
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VAR will be able to intervene more frequently next season (Image: Getty Images)
The changes agreed on Saturday will officially become part of the competition’s rules from July 1, but will be adopted at this summer’s World Cup, which starts on June 11. IFAB also agreed to carry out a trial to further assess delayed tactical injuries in goalkeepers and suggest options to stop this practice.
Lawmakers are adamant that VAR checks in corners must not delay the start of kicks and are only used to spot obvious mistakes. Corner kick checks will be optional rather than a mandatory part of the VAR protocol.
Also, VAR will only check a second yellow card given in error. They do not advise referees to issue a second yellow card if no yellow card is shown on the field.
The IFAB will also consult to develop measures for when a player leaves the field of play in protest of a refereeing decision or a team official instigating such behavior, or when a player covers his mouth when confronting an opponent during a match.
The African Cup of Nations final was postponed due to Senegal’s walkover, but during last week’s Champions League match, Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestiani is accused of racially assaulting Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior while covering his mouth with his shirt. UEFA is investigating the incident and Prestiani denies racially abusing Vinicius.
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