- Video assistant referees (VAR) will gain new powers at this summer’s World Cup , allowing them to intervene if fouls are committed immediately before the ball is put into play at set-pieces.
- These new measures permit VAR to step in when a clear foul by the attacking team, occurring before the ball is in play, directly influences a goal, penalty kick, or disciplinary sanction.
- If VAR recommends an on-field review and the referee confirms an offence occurred before the ball was in play, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken, and the corner or free-kick will be retaken.
- Pierluigi Collina, Fifa’s chief refereeing officer, cited England’s goal against Uruguay in March as an example that would now be disallowed, arguing Ben White’s goal should not have stood due to Adam Wharton’s block before the corner.
- VAR's role is also expanding to review red cards from wrongful second bookings and mistaken identity, while discussions continue on preventing teams from exploiting injuries to break up play, with referees instructed to be proactive.
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