Even with corners
FIFA referee boss Collina for expanding VAR
12/5/2025 – 1:55 a.mReading time: 1 min.
VAR could also be used for corner kicks at the 2026 World Cup. At least that’s what referee boss Pierluigi Collina wants.
FIFA referee Pierluigi Collina supports VAR reviewing corner kick decisions at next year’s World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico (June 11 to July 19). “The main criterion is that there are no delays. But with a corner there is a delay anyway because we usually wait until the two central defenders have come forward,” said the Italian, according to media reports, at an event in Washington.
“It normally takes ten to 15 seconds before the attacking team is ready to take a corner,” said the former world-class referee: “In these seconds it can be determined whether a corner may have been given incorrectly. So why should we bury our heads in the sand during this time and just hope that the decision is not wrong?”
In October, FIFA failed in a corresponding attempt before the regulators of the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Now, at their meeting on January 20th in London, they will decide on the review of corner kick decisions and the second warning for a yellow-red card by the VAR.
So far, only goals, penalties, red cards and possible mix-ups with sending offs can be checked. Proponents of the expanded powers argue that the decisions made in a final tournament are of great importance. Critics fear further game delays.