Why VAR Will Not Be Involved in Corner Decisions

Frustration for Nottingham Forest Manager Sean Dyche

The head coach of Nottingham Forest, Sean Dyche, expressed his disappointment following his team’s latest match. His frustration arose from Manchester United’s recent goal, which he believes was preceded by an erroneously awarded corner—an issue compounded by VAR’s inability to review such instances as corners are not included in its jurisdiction. Dyche noted that this was not an isolated incident; it marked the second consecutive week that his team conceded from what he feels was a wrongful corner decision.

Dyche recounted how Nicolo Savona insisted he had kept the ball in play, yet Assistant Referee Akil Howson signaled for a corner. A similar situation occurred just a week prior when Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier scored directly from a corner that should have resulted in a goal kick instead. Dyche aired his grievances, stating, “Two in two weeks is ridiculous. There should be a mechanism in place to correct this oversight,” underscoring the urgency for review mechanisms given the direct impact on the game.

The Ifab’s Decision on Corner Reviewability

Recently, the International Football Association Board (Ifab) convened to explore potential modifications to VAR, with specific attention paid to instances where incorrect corner calls resulted in goals. FIFA proposed integrating corners into VAR’s responsibilities, considering them straightforward factual decisions that typically do not involve subjective judgment.

However, advisory panel members—including former players and referees—expressed mixed feelings about this idea and eventually voted against it. The primary concern was the time it would take to verify every corner, especially since corners occur regularly—averaging around ten per match in the Premier League. Dyche proposed that verifying such decisions would only take around five seconds, but those familiar with VAR protocols recognize this process rarely operates so swiftly.

Additionally, this would violate one of the main principles of Law Five, which states that a referee cannot change their initial restart decision after play has resumed. Consequently, once a corner is awarded and the game continues, the referee must not influence the outcome.

The Ifab panels recommended that second yellow cards be reviewed instead, yet the acceptance of such reviews is still debated. Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the Football Association, has opposed any expansion of VAR’s role, maintaining that the current framework is adequate.

VAR Blunders with Red Cards: Marcos Senesi’s Lucky Escapes

Bournemouth’s defense faced significant challenges this season, exacerbated by the departures of key players. A further complication arose as Marcos Senesi escaped being penalized with a red card on two occasions this season. The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel unanimously determined that Senesi should have been sent off earlier this season for handling the ball as Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike was about to advance on goal.

Moreover, in a later instance involving Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr, referee Jarred Gillett rejected a VAR review that suggested upgrading a foul to a red card, a decision later criticized by the KMI panel on a split vote. Of the five past occasions when a referee disregarded a VAR review, two have been deemed incorrect.

Consequently, Senesi has evaded suspension during critical matches, including those against Wolves and Nottingham Forest and the recent fixture versus Manchester City.

VAR Delays Benefiting West Ham United

West Ham United, in a match against Newcastle United, found themselves beneficiaries of a lengthy VAR review process that resulted in the overturning of a penalty decision. Following a clear touch on the ball by Newcastle’s Malik Thiaw before contact with West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, the penalty awarded was reviewed and retracted after an agonizing wait of over three minutes.

Ultimately, the VAR review did not go unpunished for West Ham, as they were able to capitalize on the extended stoppage time, leading to a goal by Sven Botman during injury time. Despite the frustrations surrounding the VAR process, their effort paid off, allowing them to equalize shortly after the penalty was reversed.

In conclusion, while discussions surrounding VAR continue to evolve, the consensus appears to favor maintaining a clear boundary on what decisions can be reviewed, particularly concerning corners, to limit interruptions and maintain the game’s flow effectively.