The video referee in football is given significantly more powers. This was decided by the international regulators at the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board (Ifab) in Wales. The new regulations will come into force in the summer and could therefore already be applied at the World Cup in North America. In the Bundesliga they are likely to apply from the coming season. However, there is no obligation to adopt the new rules for all competitions.
According to Ifab, the video assistant will also check corner kicks for correctness in the future, “provided the check can be carried out immediately and without delaying the resumption of the game,” according to the statement. This is to prevent an incorrectly given corner kick from directly leading to a goal. In the future, VAR will also check second yellow cards, which lead to a yellow-red dismissal. However, first yellow cards for a player or unpunished warnings that could have led to a traffic light card are still not checked – unless it can be proven that the wrong player was punished.
Building on the eight-second rule for goalkeepers when teeing off, the Ifab confirmed the extension of the countdown principle to include throw-ins and goal kicks. “If the referee is of the opinion that a throw-in or goal kick is intentionally delayed for too long, a countdown of five seconds will be started,” explained the rules officials. If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, the opposing team receives a throw-in. A delayed goal kick results in a corner for the other team. In addition, substituted players will in future have to leave the field within ten seconds of the substitution board being displayed. If the player does not comply, the substitute will not be allowed onto the pitch until the next break. If an injured player is treated, he must leave the field and will in future have to stay outside for one minute.