Football is a living organism, and its rulebook evolves alongside the sport itself. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is determined to shake up the established order: on the agenda are an expansion of VAR’s powers, a complete overhaul of the penalty procedure, and the correction of contentious set pieces. Let’s see what the upcoming innovations could mean for teams, coaches, and fans.
VAR as the Guardian of Fairness: Second Yellows in the Crosshairs
Today video assistant referees can intervene in only four “critical” categories—goals, penalties, straight red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. IFAB proposes adding incidents involving a second caution to that list. Supporters emphasize that a dismissal for two yellows often decides the outcome of a match, so justice demands video review. Skeptics fear that the subjectivity of such episodes will trigger fresh disputes and endless stoppages.
A Corner Without Error: When the Corner Flag Is Redundant
Another initiative would allow VAR to overturn incorrectly awarded corner kicks. Every erroneous corner is a potential scoring chance, so correcting such mistakes is likely to win broad backing. The crucial point is to ensure that the review process does not drag out the game or disrupt the teams’ rhythm.
One-Shot Penalty: Follow-Up Attempts Banned
The most radical proposal concerns the penalty spot. Under the new draft, if the goalkeeper saves the kick, the play ends immediately—no second chance, no rebound. The logic is simple: eliminate the chaos of ricochets and follow-ups, turning a penalty into a pure duel between attacker and keeper. IFAB plans lengthy field trials at selected tournaments before rolling the rule out worldwide.
Between Dynamics and Pauses: Searching for the Golden Mean
The regulators’ main concern is to avoid turning a match into a chain of video reviews. Each additional VAR category potentially adds new stopwatch pauses, threatening the spectacle and commercial appeal of the game. IFAB insists that no change will be approved without a clear protocol and calculations that minimize disruption to the match’s rhythm.
Reform Roadmap: From Idea to Whistle
Procedurally, all proposals will be submitted to IFAB’s November meeting, and the final vote will take place, as usual, in March. If a majority of board members gives the green light, the expanded VAR powers could take effect without further testing, while the one-shot penalty will definitely undergo a trial period. Fans would do well to follow the agenda closely: this pre-season could mark the starting point for the most significant rule reform since the introduction of video replays.
For now, teams are setting up their training camps, and coaches are running new tactical scenarios in their minds: what will football look like when second yellows are reviewed, corners can be revoked, and a penalty is settled with a single touch? We will get the answers soon—on pitches where every refereeing decision is now, quite literally, under a microscope.
