A bold new era for football is on the horizon, with FIFA determined to revolutionize the game's rules for the 2026 World Cup. Despite initial resistance, they're pushing ahead with a major VAR rule change that could spark controversy and divide opinions.
The proposed change? Allowing VAR to scrutinize corner kicks, a move that has been met with rejection from stakeholders and members alike. But here's where it gets interesting: FIFA is determined to implement this change, even though it was initially shot down.
VAR's Corner Kick Conundrum
According to BBC Sport, FIFA is determined to have VAR check corner kicks at the upcoming World Cup, despite domestic leagues' reluctance to adopt this practice across all competitions. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game's rule-makers, met in October and agreed that VAR could be expanded to check incorrectly given yellow cards, which could lead to a red. However, the idea of reviewing corner kicks was rejected.
This rejection means IFAB must now conduct extensive global trials before implementing this change at the North American World Cup next summer.
The Case for Change
Former legendary referee Pierluigi Collina, now FIFA's head of referees, supports this change as part of a broader review of VAR protocol. Collina cites an incident from the Euro 2016 final, where Portugal was wrongly awarded a free-kick in extra time for handball on the edge of the area, almost resulting in a goal. This incident highlights the potential benefits of VAR's expanded role.
IFAB will meet again in January to further discuss this controversial proposal.
League Officials' Concerns
One major concern for leagues worldwide is that excessive VAR usage could lead to more time-wasting. Mark Bullingham, chief executive of The Football Association and a member of IFAB's board, told BBC Sport, "We don't think there's any need to extend the use of VAR. We're in a good place now." He added that while they would consider any proposal brought forward by IFAB, as a group, they don't believe VAR needs to be expanded at this time, citing enough game interruptions in the current model.
The Challenge of Implementation
An important rule in the Laws of the Game, applicable at all levels, states that a referee cannot change a restart decision even if they realize it's incorrect after play resumes. So, once the corner is taken and the game is live, it must continue. If the new laws are implemented next year, every corner will need to be reviewed by VAR, although most decisions will be straightforward.
Football fans eagerly await FIFA's decision on whether and when to implement these rule changes. Before that, FIFA must thoroughly trial these methods to ensure a foolproof plan.
So, what do you think? Should VAR be expanded to include corner kick reviews? Or is this a step too far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
