The Role of VAR in Second Yellow Cards: A Renewed Debate

A recent incident involving Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Arsenal’s Declan Rice has reignited discussions about VAR’s involvement in second yellow card decisions.

The Core Question

Many fans ask why VAR does not engage in situations involving second yellow cards, especially when the implications can be just as significant as those connected to straight red cards. Currently, VAR’s remit is limited to evaluating goals and straight red cards, which has led to considerable debate, particularly during the recent busy holiday fixtures. There have been notable moments involving teams like Arsenal and Manchester City where a lack of VAR intervention has raised eyebrows.

Incidents Prompting Discussion

1. Dec. 27: Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City – Rúben Dias

   • Dias fouled Nottingham’s Igor Jesus, halting a potential goal-scoring opportunity. Many argue this warranted a second yellow card.

2. Dec. 30: Arsenal vs. Aston Villa – Mikel Merino

   • Merino’s tactical foul on Morgan Rogers was similarly seen as deserving of a second caution, given the clear attacking chance for Villa.
3. Jan. 3: Bournemouth vs. Arsenal – Antoine Semenyo
   • Semenyo’s act of pulling Rice’s arm went unpunished, despite stopping the momentum of an Arsenal attack. This incident highlights how the referee’s inaction meant VAR couldn’t consider a second yellow.

Potential Changes in VAR’s Protocol

While VAR cannot currently intervene in decisions about second yellow cards unless related to an error involving the wrong player, there are discussions within IFAB regarding potential changes.

It is being evaluated whether VAR could step in when a clear mistake is made concerning a second yellow card. The premise is that if a player is wrongly sent off based on an obvious error, it significantly impacts the game. There is a strong likelihood that this suggestion could be implemented by the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season, potentially even debuting at the upcoming World Cup.

A Hypothetical Scenario

Imagine if Jesus fell during the same play involving Dias. If a foul was called leading to a second yellow for Dias but later shown that there was no contact, VAR would recommend a review to the referee, allowing for a possible correction of the initial decision.

However, it’s essential to note that VAR would still not intervene in cases where a second yellow was not given by the referee, which raises further questions about situations where fouls are unnoticed.

The Debate on Expanding VAR’s Role

Many believe that expanding VAR’s power to intervene on potential second yellow cards could be problematic. Such a change would significantly alter how referees handle matches at a high level, shifting from a more subjective to a factual interpretation of on-field incidents.

Referees already face challenges making split-second decisions, balancing their game-management instincts with the rules. For example, in the cases of Dias and Merino, each referee weighed the circumstances at hand and made their decisions. Allowing VAR to influence subjective calls may lead to more complications, likening the approach to attempting to re-officiate games.

In conclusion, while correcting clear errors regarding issued second yellow cards may be a positive step forward, the prospect of VAR being involved in broader second yellow card offenses remains contentious and complex.