The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved new powers for video referees (VAR) at football matches. In the future, they should also be able to check clearly incorrect corner kick decisions, as the IFAB announced. They should also check wrongly awarded yellow cards, which lead to yellow-red cards as a second warning. It should also be possible to correct incorrectly assigned yellow and red cards.
The changes are not yet legally binding. They must first be confirmed by the IFAB General Assembly on February 28th in Hensol, Wales. Rule changes usually come into force on June 1st. At the World Cup in the summer in the USA, Mexico and Canada, the video referees could already be entrusted with the new tasks. The innovations would be possible in the Bundesliga from the coming season.
New rules are intended to speed up the game
The prerequisite for the new regulations is that the control, especially when checking corners, does not delay the game. In general, the IFAB focuses on innovations that are intended to speed up the game.
In the future, the eight-second rule, which already applies to goalkeepers who control the ball with their hands, will also apply to throw-ins and goal kicks. The referee shows a countdown with his fingers. In addition, players must leave the pitch within ten seconds when substitutions are made. It is still to be determined how long injured players who were treated on the field will then have to wait outside the field before they can come on again.
Associations can decide whether to adopt rules
So far, all of these are proposals for the General Assembly. However, implementation is considered likely since the IFAB technical commission had already proposed the innovations in autumn last year. However, the associations are free to decide whether to adopt these rules.
The IFAB is responsible for all football rules worldwide. It includes four FIFA representatives, including President Gianni Infantino, as well as one representative each from the national associations from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
