The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is set to consider significant rule changes during its weekend meeting in Wales that would strengthen the role of VAR. Among the proposed novelties are automatic verification of every corner kick and review of second yellow cards leading to a red. Decisions made on Saturday could impact the game as early as the World Cup in 2026. Key figures from world football will participate in the deliberations.

Automatic verification of corner kicks

The most important of the proposed changes is the mandatory, immediate verification of every awarded corner kick by VAR. The goal is to prevent situations where an incorrectly awarded corner leads to a goal. The decision is to be made in real time to avoid long interruptions in play.

Verification of second yellow cards

IFAB is also considering extending VAR's powers to review second yellow cards that result in a player's dismissal from the pitch. However, the system would not have the ability to verify the first yellow card nor the lack of a card that should have resulted in a second warning, unless a proven and obvious error was made.

Meeting of key decision-makers

Decisions will be made during IFAB's 140th Annual General Meeting, which will take place on Saturday at the headquarters of the Football Association of Wales in Hensol near Cardiff. The meeting will be attended by the highest-ranking representatives of world football, underscoring the importance of the discussed changes.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is preparing to introduce significant changes to the laws of the game, which, contrary to the expectations of some fans and experts, aim to expand, not limit, the scope of VAR's intervention. During its 140th Annual General Meeting in Wales, scheduled for Saturday, the rule-makers are to discuss and vote on amendments that could come into force even before the summer World Cup.

The most controversial proposal is the introduction of automatic verification for every corner kick. According to the draft changes, every awarded corner will be checked by VAR in real time. The goal of this modification is to eliminate situations where a goal is scored following an incorrectly awarded corner. German sources emphasize that the check is to be immediate to avoid "quälend langen Prüfzeiten," or agonizingly long review times, which are criticized in other situations verified by video.

The VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system was introduced into the official laws of the game by IFAB in 2018, after a testing period. Initially, its application was limited to four "game-changing" situations: awarding a goal, penalty decisions, red card decisions, and mistaken identity. Since then, its role has been gradually expanded and evolved in response to controversies arising during top-tier matches.

Another planned change is extending VAR's competence to verify second yellow cards that lead to an automatic red card and player dismissal. This means the video referee will be able to challenge the main referee's decision to award a second warning if deemed a clear and obvious error. However, according to the draft, the system will not cover the first yellow card nor situations where the referee failed to award a card when they should have, unless it is a clear and proven error. This extension aims to increase fairness in key game moments that can decide the outcome of a match.

„Während viele Fans den Videoschiedsrichter am liebsten wieder abschaffen wollen, soll die Macht des VAR ausgeweitet werden.” — Article from n-tv

The IFAB meeting in Hensol near Cardiff will gather the most important decision-makers in world football. Among the participants will be FIFA President Gianni Infantino and legendary coach and current FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger. The presence of such influential figures underscores the significance of the decisions being made for the future of the sport. This year's Annual General Meeting is a key moment in IFAB's calendar, as it is during this meeting that rule changes can be formally approved before being ratified by the organizations represented on the Board.

The proposed modifications are meeting mixed reactions. On one hand, they aim to increase the precision and fairness of refereeing decisions in crucial match moments. On the other, they raise concerns about further slowing down the pace of the game and increasing the number of stoppages, which is one of the main criticisms of VAR's current operation. Decisions made on Saturday could have a direct impact on competitions as early as summer 2026, including the upcoming World Cup.

Mentioned People

  • Gianni Infantino — President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
  • Arsène Wenger — Former manager of Arsenal London, currently FIFA Chief of Global Football Development.