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The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) could soon have even more say on the pitch. Football’s lawmakers, IFAB, are weighing a proposal to allow VAR interventions for second yellow card incidents. At present, VAR can only step in for straight reds, goals, penalties, or mistaken identity. But as reported by The Athletic, IFAB “reviewed a plan to allow VAR to intervene in situations involving a second yellow card (cumulative dismissal).” That gap in the current rules caused controversy last season when Manchester City’s Rico Lewis was shown a debatable second yellow against Crystal Palace. Despite replays showing that the Palace player stepped on Lewis’s foot, VAR was powerless to intervene. Former Premier League referee Mike Dean believes that needs to change. “Such errors should be correctable through VAR,” he said. Timing Is Everything: The 8-Second Rule Could Expand IFAB also reportedly discussed applying countdown-style limits to goal kicks and throw-ins, similar to the new rule penalising goalkeepers who hold onto the ball for more than eight seconds. Currently, that’s punished with a corner to the opposition. The proposal aims to stop teams from time-wasting and to speed up play, especially with long throws now becoming tactical weapons. According to The Athletic, over 25% of attacking-third throw-ins in the Premier League this season have been launched directly into the box — nearly double last year’s rate. No Changes To Offside Rule Yet Also to be noted is that there will be no immediate changes to the offside law, which has seen trials of Arsene Wenger’s proposed “daylight rule” and also consideration of using the torso of players as the measure. Despite being asked “to consider whether the main objective should be to reduce marginal offside decisions in modern football to promote more attacking play”, members agreed the issue “required further analysis and additional trials” pending any changes. What Happens Next These proposals aren’t official yet. They’ll be reviewed at IFAB’s Annual Business Meeting on January 20, before any final decisions are made at the Annual General Meeting on February 28.
