Overview
- Advisory panels agreed to develop a formal plan allowing VAR to intervene on incidents that lead to a second yellow-card dismissal, closing a current protocol gap.
- Members also explored countdown-style limits for throw-ins and dead-ball goal kicks, building on the new eight-second goalkeeper rule used to speed up restarts.
- The proposals are scheduled for consideration at IFAB’s Annual Business Meeting in January, with any further approval to follow at the Annual General Meeting.
- Calls for the VAR expansion intensified after high-profile cases including Olympiacos’ Santiago Hezze versus Barcelona and Manchester City’s Rico Lewis against Crystal Palace.
- Some outlets report FIFA may seek to fast-track second-yellow VAR interventions for the 2026 World Cup, a claim not confirmed by IFAB or FIFA, while offside-law work continues without immediate changes.