The Premier League is to reject widening the scope of VAR next season after talks with the refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO). Under a regulation change approved by the International Football Association Board (Ifab) in February, the video assistant referee will be permitted to rule on the award of corners and second yellow cards from next month, with referees to use the powers at the World Cup after a request from Fifa.
Ifab has made the new law discretionary, however, allowing leagues and competitions to decide whether to adopt it. The Premier League’s final decision will be made by the clubs at their annual general meeting next month, but PGMO has advised against extending the use of VAR.
There are concerns at PGMO that using VAR to rule on corners and bookings could significantly increase the length of matches, which may alienate the Premier League’s broadcast partners and put more pressure on match officials.
The potential for additional disruption and longer matches is also a problem for the clubs, with sources indicating there is little appetite to overrule PGMO’s guidance and add to VAR’s responsibilities.
Fifa has taken a different view, with the chair of its referees committee, Pierluigi Collina, and the president, Gianni Infantino, said to have concerns that an incorrect corner decision could have a decisive influence on a World Cup game, particularly in the knockout stages. With World Cup matches to be extended by three-minute hydration breaks in each half the prospect of longer games is less of a concern.
There is less chance of a single corner having a decisive influence on the outcome of the 38-match Premier League although Sunday’s decision by Chris Kavanagh to disallow Callum Wilson’s injury-time equaliser for West Ham against Arsenal in consultation with the VAR, Darren England, could affect the destination of the title and the final relegation place.
PGMO’s chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb, is expected to discuss that decision on Sky Sports’ Match Officials Mic’d Up on Tuesday, with PGMO adamant the pair made the right call and followed the correct protocols.
West Ham intend to lodge a complaint against the decision to award a free-kick against Pablo for making contact with Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya, although there is an acceptance at the club that it will not get them anywhere.
Ifab is expected to discuss the problem of grappling at corners, which has been particularly pronounced in the Premier League this season, when it meets after the World Cup, but there are no proposals over how to tackle the problem at this stage.
