The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has decided to give video assistant referees greater powers, with second yellow cards and corner kicks also added to their powers.
VAR is about to be given more powers (Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
VAR will soon wield even greater powers after football’s parliamentarians agreed to expand its scope. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) met in London and decided to extend VAR’s powers to include second yellow cards and corner kicks.
Currently, video assistant referees cannot intervene on yellow cards, even if a second yellow results in a player being sent off. However, IFAB decided that it should be able to intervene regarding a “second factually incorrect yellow card”.
It was also agreed that VAR could inform the on-field referee “if a corner kick is clearly awarded in error, so long as a restart can be taken immediately without delay”.
Despite clearly expanding VAR’s powers, IFAB insists the changes are “specific enhancements that do not slow the flow of play”. It is claimed that VAR will continue to focus primarily on goals, penalties, red cards and cases of mistaken identity.
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Football’s parliamentarians were also delighted to praise the “positive feedback globally” regarding recent goalkeeping rule changes. The keeper has an eight-second countdown when in possession of the ball, and if this is broken, a corner is awarded to the opposing team.
Following this success, IFAB extended the rule to goal kicks and throw-ins to reduce time-wasting tactics. They also plan to introduce a 10-second time limit for substitutes to further speed up play.
The update comes amid further complaints about the length of time VAR interventions regularly take. During Manchester City’s win over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final last week, it took five minutes and 30 seconds for Antoine Semenho’s goal to be canceled out by VAR.
There was a lengthy VAR delay in last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
This was because the semi-automatic offside technology failed to pinpoint the location of the ball on its way to the goal. IFAB recommended continued testing of semi-automatic offside techniques (SAOT).
Match officials in professional games have consistently had to apologize and explain VAR delays and mistakes this season, as head coach Howard Webb seeks to increase accountability. And expanding VAR’s powers is unlikely to go down well with many people attending matches.
Pep Guardiola went on a rant after the VAR travesty in the match against Newcastle, saying, “Today the line was set so four players couldn’t score.” “I’m sure Mr. Howard Webb will call tomorrow to explain it to you.”
He added: “Today it took more than six minutes (to review) so I can’t even discuss it with the referee. But they will call me.”
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