Football authorities are contemplating expanding the scope of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Suggestions are being put forth to allow VAR to overturn incorrect second yellow cards, which will be presented to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the governing body overseeing the rules of association football.
During the Annual Business Meeting in London scheduled for January, IFAB will deliberate on the inclusion of video match officials intervening in cases like these under the VAR protocol. Presently, only direct red cards or cautions resulting from mistaken identity can be reversed.
A recent incident involved Olympiacos player Santiago Hezze receiving a second yellow card against Barcelona. Despite appeals for VAR intervention due to suspicions of a dive by Barcelona’s Marc Cassado, the technology was not authorized to make a judgment. Barcelona eventually triumphed 6-1 with the score at 2-1 during the contentious moment.
Granting more authority to VAR raises concerns due to its history of high-profile errors. Notably, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel highlighted instances where Fulham and Wolves were adversely affected by VAR decisions.
Discussions also touched on the success of new regulations aimed at curbing time-wasting by goalkeepers in the Premier League. The proposal includes implementing an eight-second time limit for goalkeepers holding the ball, with a corner awarded if this limit is exceeded.
Further talks involve potentially applying similar time constraints, including countdowns, for stalled throw-ins and goal kicks to minimize time lost during injuries and substitutions. Additionally, the introduction of “only the captain” guidelines has received positive feedback, aiming to improve respectful interactions between players and referees.
IFAB’s Football and Technical Advisory Panels have recommended making these guidelines a mandatory protocol in the Laws of the Game.