Opponents of video refereeing in football will still have cause for indignation. The number of situations potentially analyzable by screens is likely to increase in the coming months, particularly with a view to the 2026 World Cup in North America (Canada, United States, Mexico).
Two sequences of the game could soon be affected: corners, but also the second yellow cards distributed to a player, which therefore lead de facto to a red card synonymous with expulsion. For the moment, only potential direct exclusions are included in the protocol, and therefore likely to be analyzed by the video referees, then reported to the official on the pitch.
A meeting on the subject in early December
“Explicit examples showed that the referee had sometimes misjudged the contact, and had mistakenly given a second warning. In the state of the VAR protocol, it was impossible for him to reverse his decision, describes the boss of the FFF refereeing department, Antony Gautier. This would be an opportunity offered to the video referee to challenge the referee so that he reconsiders his decision. »
If the Ifab (International Football Association Board, which governs the rules of the game) explained at the end of October that it was looking into this subject, which will be put to a vote in January, the point concerning corners was notably discussed at the beginning of December, during a meeting between representatives of the Ifab and the refereeing management of the five major championships (Germany, England, Spain, Italy, France).
And on the keys?
“The risk that exists today in opening the VAR protocol to corner kicks is that behind it, we can have the same thinking in relation to throw-ins, for example. One of the risks is creating case law, points out Antony Gautier. I am more reserved about taking the ball out from corners, even if I understand the thinking that exists in relation to the impact that this can have on a potential goal scored in the process. »
In April, PSG equalized in the semi-final of the Coupe de France against Dunkirk thanks to a non-existent corner, which angered the Ligue 2 players, who were ultimately eliminated (4-2). In vain, because the referee could not, under the terms of the current protocol, be informed of his error by his assistant installed in front of the screens.
