IFAB Exploring Rule Change to Let VAR Review Fouls Before Restart

The International Football Association Board is examining changes that would allow video assistant referees to review fouls committed immediately before the ball is put back into play. Pierluigi Collina, FIFA's chief refereeing officer and head of the FIFA Referees Committee, said the measure is intended to address situations where such fouls currently cannot be corrected.

Collina cited England's March friendly against Uruguay, which ended 1-1, as an example.

He said Ben White's goal should not have been allowed because Adam Wharton obstructed Uruguayan defender Jose Maria Gimenez before the ball entered play. "We are convinced that this goal cannot stand, it is completely unfair," Collina stated. Collina added that IFAB is working toward a clarification before the World Cup.

"At the moment we have no solution, but IFAB is working on it, so we are very confident to receive a clarification from IFAB before the World Cup, saying that VAR can intervene just before the ball is in play," he said. " From this summer, VAR will already gain authority to review incorrect second yellow cards that lead to dismissals and cases of mistaken identity involving yellow cards.

Officials will also be permitted to correct instances where corner kicks were wrongly awarded instead of goal kicks.

FIFA is separately addressing teams that use injury stoppages to hold tactical discussions with coaches. " He added that the goalkeeper has the right to be injured, but players do not have the right to leave the field for what amounts to a timeout. Collina stated that IFAB did not adopt sanctions for this season on players leaving the field during stoppages.

"Certainly something will be done in the future. For the time being, we rely on players' understanding of the problem," he said. Referees have been instructed to monitor the behavior and intervene if necessary.