In late February, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved six rule changes designed, among other things, to expand the powers of VAR. However, it appears the Premier League will not adopt these changes.
At the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Wales at the end of February, six new rules were finalized. These include, among other things, rules intended to expand the powers of VAR in the future. Specifically, the video assistant referee will be used to correct yellow-red cards if the second caution leading to a yellow-red card was clearly and obviously incorrect. In addition, the VAR can correct incorrect corner kick decisions, provided that the incorrectly awarded corner kick is immediately identified by the VAR and corrected by the referee without causing a significant delay.
Referee organization PGMO expresses concerns
While the new rules are set to take effect at the World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (June 11 to July 19), among other events, they are not universally welcomed. The DFB also considers them “not thoroughly thought through” and believes referees will bear the brunt of the changes.
In England, too, the changes are viewed with skepticism—and it appears the Premier League will oppose the introduction of the rules. According to a report in The Guardian, discussions between the league and the referees’ organization PGMO (Professional Game Match Officials) were decisive in this regard. However, nothing has been finalized yet, as the final decision will be made by the clubs at the annual general meeting in June—but the PGMO has advised against expanding VAR’s powers.
FIFA takes a different view
As the report further indicates, the clubs are unwilling to disregard the PGMO’s instructions, which is why it is expected that the decision will be made in June. This is possible because the IFAB has left it to the discretion of the respective leagues and associations to decide whether they actually want to adopt the rules newly adopted in February.
The PGMO has concerns that the additional use of VAR for decisions on corner kicks and yellow-red cards could significantly extend match duration, which would not be in the interest of TV rights holders and could also increase pressure on referees.
FIFA, meanwhile, takes a different view—which is why the new rules will also be put to the test for the first time at the World Cup. Pierluigi Collina (Chairman of the Referees Committee) and President Gianni Infantino are said to have expressed concerns that an incorrect corner kick decision could have a decisive impact on a World Cup match, particularly in the knockout stage. The argument regarding extended playing time, however, is of less concern to FIFA. Among other reasons, this will be the case anyway due to the three-minute water breaks in each half.