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Domestic leagues have rejected the proposal for being too time consuming, but FIFA is set to use the video-assisted referee (VAR) to check on awarding of corners during next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The proposal didn’t find support at an October meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) – which frames the laws of the game – where a green light was given to VAR adjudicating on incorrectly-handed second yellow cards, which result in a sending off.
VAR deciding on corners would be again discussed at the next IFAB meeting in January, BBC Sport reported. Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s head of referees, is said to be a supporter of the rule change as part of a wider review of VAR protocol, believing that any officiating error that can quickly be identified by the VAR could potentially be communicated.
As of now, VAR is employed to look into four specific areas: goals, penalties, red cards and mistaken identity. If FIFA has its way, it would need a change in protocol.
If the proposal doesn’t get support in the IFAB, next year’s FIFA World Cup would have to be a trial for this rule change.
On the other hand, leagues are concerned about delays in games, and are loath to rule changes which could add to them. Time added on after each half of games has gone up considerably in Premier League games, and though there have been a few instances in recent times of incorrectly-awarded corners resulting in goals, there isn’t much appetite for a rule change.
Resources are also a factor in domestic leagues not agreeing to implement the change. While FIFA can have as many video referees as it deems fit for the World Cup, money and personnel become an issue for the domestic competitions – especially in the lower tiers.
At the 2022 World Cup, group-stage games had five people working in the VAR room, whereas domestic leagues usually have just two, according to BBC Sport.
In addition to the VAR and assistant VAR, FIFA appointed an offside VAR, a support VAR and a support assistant VAR. The world body can also make sure there are enough cameras positioned in the right places to make quick decisions, not something most domestic leagues can afford to have.
The Adidas ball, used in the World Cup, would be a help in deciding on corners as the connected technology can quickly identify who touched the ball last before it went out of play. This facility is not available in domestic leagues.
