Overview
- Football’s lawmaking panels discussed expanding VAR to allow intervention on incorrect second yellow cards, a step not permitted under the current protocol.
- The recent dismissal of Olympiacos’ Santiago Hezze against Barcelona has intensified scrutiny of VAR’s limits, even as concerns persist about altering referee behavior.
- Recommendations are expected to be submitted to the IFAB Annual Business Meeting in January in London, where trials could be authorized through the established governance process.
- Lawmakers also examined new time-wasting curbs, considering countdown limits for throw-ins and dead-ball goal kicks after the eight-second goalkeeper rule was judged successful.
- The meeting reviewed offside reforms, including updates on ‘daylight’ offside trials, and the panels recommended making the ‘only the captain’ interaction guidance a mandatory protocol.