UEFA to push back against giving VAR more power to include corner kicks

UEFA officials are pushing back strongly against proposed changes that would give video assistant referees (VAR) more power during matches (h/t the Times).

The European football governing body is particularly concerned about ideas that would allow VAR to intervene on corner kicks and second yellow cards.

Those areas are currently off limits to video review, but the proposal is expected to be presented to the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

While IFAB sets the rules of the game, UEFA believes that adding these parameters to VAR’s jurisdiction would cause more harm than good.

For one, it’ll cause more delays during matches, which doesn’t help the game in any way.

A senior source from UEFA described VAR’s growing influence as ‘hard to tolerate’. They claim it could harm the flow and rhythm of the game.

VAR is already used for goals, red cards, penalties and other major incidents during the game. But some people argue that VAR should be given more responsibility.

They want it to be used to correct clear-cut errors, such as awarding a corner when the ball last touched an attacking player. UEFA are firmly against more VAR interventions.

Another proposal that has raised plenty of eyebrows is the suggested change to the penalty rule.

The idea is to change the law so that if a goalkeeper saves a penalty, the ball is declared ‘dead’. That means players will not be able to score from a rebound even if the ball is still in play.

Those in favour of the rule argue that it would simplify things and resolve issues like encroachment, but UEFA considers the proposal a ‘no-go’.

UEFA is already fuming that IFAB previously changed the rules without consulting them.

Back in March, they introduced a rule that now awards a corner kick instead of an indirect free kick if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds.

UEFA felt sidelined in that process and wants to be more involved in any future proposals.

Meanwhile, the Premier League is considering the introduction of referee cameras to bring the game closer to the fans.

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