Football’s lawmakers ponder handing MORE power to VAR despite continued controversy

Proposals that would hand VAR chiefs more power to intervene are set to be submitted to football’s lawmakers in January as second yellow cards come under scrutiny

Football lawmakers are considering allowing VAR to have wider-reaching powers. Proposals that could see video technology permitted to overturn incorrect second yellow cards are to be submitted to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the independent guardians of the rules of association football.

The body’s Annual Business Meeting in January in London will discuss whether video match officials should be allowed to intervene in such instances as part of the VAR protocol. Currently, only direct red cards or cautions resulting from mistaken identity can be overturned.

Recently, Olympiacos star Santiago Hezze was sent off after being awarded a second yellow card against Barcelona. The defender was judged to have caught Marc Cassado with an arm, but on replay, it appeared Cassado had dived.

Despite appeals from the sideline for VAR to get involved, the technology is not currently permitted to provide judgment on such incidents. With the score 2-1 at that stage, Barcelona eventually ran out 6-1 winners.

Handing more power to VAR will come with concerns, as the system still produces high-profile errors. Last month, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel highlighted Fulham and Wolves as the victims of VAR mistakes.

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VAR intervened to rule out Josh King’s goal against Chelsea and denied Wolves a penalty after Everton star Iliman Ndiaye fouled Hugo Bueno. The panel unanimously agreed that video assistant referee Michael Salisbury was incorrect to intervene at Stamford Bridge by highlighting Rodrigo Muniz stepping on Trevoh Chalobah, and that Rob Jones was incorrect to disallow the goal.

Also discussed during the virtual meeting of the IFAB’s Football and Technical Advisory Panels was the success of new laws to prevent timewasting by goalkeepers. From the beginning of this season in the Premier League, they have been allowed an eight-second time limit with a corner awarded if the ball is held longer.

Now, there are discussions over whether to use the same principle, with a countdown, when throw-ins and goal kicks are stalled. Lawmakers also want to reduce the amount of time lost to stoppages caused by injuries and substitutions.

The meeting also noted that “only the captain” guidelines have been widely welcomed. They are currently optional, and it is hoped that the instructions can help foster more respectful interactions between referees and players.

The panels have recommended that the guidelines become a mandatory protocol in the Laws of the Game.

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