FIFA to Force Through Huge VAR Shake-Up for 2026 World Cup After Earlier Pushback
FIFA is poised to advance with a substantial revision to its Video Assistant Referee (VAR) regulations for the 2026 World Cup, notwithstanding initial opposition from various participating bodies and affiliated organizations.
The proposed modifications will specifically permit VAR scrutiny of decisions pertaining to corner kicks during the sport’s premier global event.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the governing authority responsible for football’s regulations, assembled for discussions in October.
During this session, a general consensus was reached regarding the broader expansion of VAR’s scope.
However, as reported by BBC Sport, while FIFA intends to strenuously champion the inclusion of VAR reviews for corner kicks at the forthcoming 2026 World Cup, they have encountered resistance from domestic leagues concerning a universal application across all competitions.
It was at that same October gathering that IFAB indeed concurred that VAR would be deployed to scrutinize mistakenly issued cautions that might escalate to an expulsion.
Trending
Nevertheless, the particular proposition for reviewing corner kicks was, in fact, rebuffed during that meeting.
Consequently, this dismissal mandates that IFAB must now embark on extensive worldwide experimental periods prior to the official adoption of such a measure at the pinnacle tournament scheduled to take place across North America in the summer.
The esteemed former official, Pierluigi Collina, a truly iconic figure in the world of football refereeing, who currently occupies the influential position as FIFA’s chief of officiating, is a vocal proponent of this proposed modification.
He views this change as an integral component of a broader, more comprehensive examination of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system’s existing operational directives and protocols.
To substantiate his viewpoint and lend weight to his argument, Collina has highlighted a significant prior occurrence: an incident from the climactic Euro 2016 final.
During that crucial match, Portugal was erroneously awarded a direct free-kick in the intense extra-time period for a supposed handball infraction occurring just outside the penalty area, a decision which very nearly culminated in a decisive goal.
Looking ahead, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the ultimate arbiter of the Laws of the Game, is slated to convene its forthcoming meeting in January, where these pivotal issues are expected to undergo further, in-depth deliberation.
Officials in the League Oppose Plans to Expand VAR Usage
A significant apprehension reverberating across global football organizations is that an over-reliance on the Video Assistant Referee system could inevitably lead to protracted delays, compromise the spontaneity of matches, and cause an undesirable amount of gameplay disruption.
This concern was directly addressed by Mark Bullingham, the chief executive of England’s Football Association and a prominent member of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), who previously conveyed his perspective to the BBC Sport.
Bullingham articulated that, from his viewpoint, there is no imperative need or justification to broaden the current scope of VAR’s application.
He clarified that within IFAB, there are continuous dialogues and frequent consultations regarding the fundamental role and appropriate remit of VAR, as well as its evolutionary path moving forward.
Bullingham asserted his belief that the current operational framework is highly effective, stating, “We perceive ourselves to be in a very good and optimal position at this moment.”
However, he did concede that “naturally, should any constituent body formally introduce a specific item for IFAB’s collective deliberation, then the entire board would, without question, give it thorough consideration.”
Despite this openness, he stressed that, “as a collective body, we do not currently perceive an urgent imperative to broaden the application of VAR.”
His rationale was clear: “We firmly believe that, within the existing model, there are already a substantial and adequate number of pauses and disruptions to the natural rhythm of the game.”
How Likely Is an Expansion of VAR in the League?
A foundational principle embedded within the established regulations of football, universally applied across every tier of competition, dictates that a match official is unable to reverse a decision concerning the resumption of play, even if they subsequently recognize an error, once the game has recommenced.
Consequently, as soon as a corner kick has been executed and the ball is actively in play, the match must proceed without interruption for retrospective correction.
Therefore, should the proposed modifications to these regulations be adopted for the upcoming global football tournament, every single corner kick will necessitate scrutiny by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
This will occur despite the fact that, in the vast majority of such instances, the initial ruling will likely be patently clear and self-evident.
The footballing public will be keenly observing to see precisely if and when FIFA receives the official authorization to enact these alterations to the video review system.
Prior to any formal adoption, however, the governing body must undertake rigorous testing and conduct comprehensive evaluations of these proposed procedures to ensure the system is entirely robust and devoid of any potential flaws.
