According to a new report in As, the video assistant referee (
The system is likely to be further expanded in the near future to cover areas such as corner kick awards and review of second yellow cards. This change is intended to improve the fairness and accuracy of the game, but it also raises concerns that the continuity of the game may be affected.
A little over a month ago.
England Premier Soccer League
Wolverhampton Wanderers had proposed the abolition of VAR, but the Premier League eventually voted "yes" to VAR. According to the rules of the English league, any new measure must be approved by at least 14 out of 20 clubs. Although some clubs have expressed dissatisfaction with the use of VAR, the majority of clubs seem to favor the continued use of the technology.
Former referee Iturralde revealed on Cadena SER radio some of the changes being explored in the application of VAR. One of them concerns the handling of the second yellow card, an area where many fans and pundits have been calling for improvements for a long time. Currently, VAR is unable to intervene in second yellow cards given for reasons such as protests, violent behavior or handball. If this change is implemented, the referee will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to uphold the decision for a second caution by looking at the monitor.
Another change involves the determination of corner kicks. Instead of going to the monitors and checking every suspected corner, the referee will rely on the information provided by the VOR (Video Operations Room) for a "quick check", according to Iturralde. The aim is to minimize disruptions to the continuity of the game, while avoiding the controversy that can arise in important matches when the final corner kick decides the winner.
These potential changes reflect the continuous exploration and refinement of the VAR system in soccer. Although the introduction of VAR has improved the fairness of the game to a certain extent, the way it is applied and its impact on the flow of the game has been the subject of heated debate. The Premier League's supportive attitude towards VAR demonstrates the importance of the system in modern soccer, and how to balance the accuracy of the technology with the flow of the game will be a challenge that soccer governing bodies and relevant stakeholders will need to face together.
