VAR will take on an even bigger role at the upcoming World Cup, with officials now allowed to disallow a goal if an attacking player commits a foul before the ball is even kicked, such as during the jostling that takes place ahead of a corner.
Under the new protocol, infringements like pushes, holds and blocks by attackers in the area can be reviewed and punished retrospectively, even if the ball ends up in the net moments later. The aim is to clamp down on the kind of off-the-ball wrestling that often goes unnoticed in real time but can have a decisive impact on set-piece situations.
This adjustment comes alongside a clearer framework for when VAR is permitted to step in, taking the total to seven match-changing scenarios. Video review can now intervene for: goals, penalties, straight red cards, second yellow cards that lead to a sending-off, cases of mistaken identity, corners wrongly awarded to a team, and fouls by an attacker in the attacking phase of play.
By expanding the list, organisers hope to make the game fairer without turning VAR into a tool for re-refereeing every minor incident, keeping the focus on clear and significant decisions that can alter the outcome of matches.
