From semi-automatic offside to VAR, every World Cup has brought a turning point: this time it’s time wasters, with countdowns and changes of possession. Plus, also new VAR protocols
VAR, semi-automatic offside, the first female referee, the fight against time wasters: the World Cup as a turning point in refereeing. At South Africa 2010, Lampard’s unseen goal in Germany-England accelerated the entry of technology into football: goodbye to phantom goals from Brazil 2014. Russia 2018 brought with it VAR, with the immediate feeling that we would never go back. Four years ago, in Qatar, the semi-automatic offside, the first female match referee (Frappart) and the mega recoveries, in some cases dangerously close to the actual time, see the twenty-seven minutes of England-Iran. Now it’s time for the North American World Cup with the fight against time wasters at its center. The smart ones had an easy time also due to the complicity of referees with little personality: an immediate “yellow” would be enough to close the score with those who try, instead of lavishing themselves with reproaches that only play into their hands. By codifying the times of some situations, FIFA reduces, but does not eliminate, discretion: it was time.
referrals and remittances
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Last year the legislators already intervened by imposing 8 seconds on the goalkeeper to get rid of the ball once he is in full possession of it (with referee countdown in the last 5 seconds and corner for the attacker in case of overshoot). Now the discussion expands to goal kicks and throw-ins: if, according to the referee, time is deliberately wasted, first the players are invited to speed up operations, then the 5-second countdown starts. If goalkeepers or players go beyond the limit, the “sanction”: corner kick against the returning team, reversal in the event of a lateral foul. Discretion is necessary because not all delays are voluntary: for example when the player with the long clearance is expected, an undeniable technical-tactical weapon.
delayed changes
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Another situation at risk: substitutions. Today there are five, six in case of extra time. Time wasters can feast peacefully. From Mexico-South Africa, the opening match on June 11, it will be more difficult. After the fourth man displays the numbers on the board, you have 10 seconds to exit the nearest line. In case of multiple substitutions, everyone is obliged to exit within 10 seconds of the last display. If not respected, the team will remain with ten men: the substitute will only set foot on the pitch at the first stop of the game after one minute has passed. And the coaches don’t like playing with ten men.
health interventions
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Last case: tactical injuries and medical interventions that delay recovery. Iron fist here too. If there is an injury, the rescued player must remain off the field for one minute, unless the foul was punished with “yellow” or “red”. Pierluigi Collina, head of world referees, explained to the international press on Friday the true objective of these innovations: “We are aiming for the deterrent effect and we think that these rules will not be applied very often, because the players will no longer waste time”. The news does not concern goalkeepers because a team cannot remain without them: there is always the risk that their “injuries” will increase, we will see at the World Cup.
protocol var
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Collina also underlined the need to update the VAR protocol on the basis of “the experience of these eight years”. First of all, the possibility of correcting a wrong second yellow card via video to avoid an unfair “red card” (Kalulu case against Inter). So the fix in case of mistaken identity. Finally, to remedy frankly embarrassing situations, the “silent-check” on the corners, to prevent a goal from arising from a refereeing error: in the seconds in which attacks and defenses are positioned, the VAR can analyze the situation and warn the referee without interrupting the flow of the game.
insults
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The Fifa Congress has given the green light to the new direct “red” rule when two opponents argue with each other while covering their mouths. A presumption of offense (often racially motivated). However, it must be a conflictual situation: two adversaries can speak calmly without wanting to be heard, if they are not arguing. “Red” also goes to those who leave the pitch in protest without authorization (see the African Cup of Nations final with Senegal who left the pitch).
Time-out or 4 strokes?
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Another novelty of the North American World Cup: the stop around the 22nd minute of each half to allow 3 minutes to quench one’s thirst against the heat. With the climate of the World Cup, it is sacrosanct. It is important that this is not another step towards the Americanization of football, between those who want actual time and those who want the 4 times of basketball. Another sport, in fact. And what does the future hold for us? While in the World Cup territories, in Canada, offside is being experimented with “light”, i.e. with total separation between attacker and defender, Board and FIFA are studying how to intervene on fouls when play is stopped – blocks during free kicks – which today escape the VAR. Appointment in 2030?
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