This move stems from recent controversies in major European leagues, such as Manchester United's opening goal against Nottingham Forest following an incorrect corner kick decision.

According to the Daily Mail, FIFA has proposed granting VAR the authority to intervene when a referee incorrectly awards a corner kick. This is a situation that can be accurately determined by video evidence, without subjective judgment. FIFA believes VAR could help the on-field officiating team reach the correct conclusion in a few seconds.

If the new rule is approved, goals like the one by Manchester United mentioned above could be disallowed.

Referee Craig Pawson checks the VAR monitor during the Everton versus Tottenham Premier League match at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, United Kingdom on 26/10/2025. Photo: Reuters

However, this proposal faces a significant obstacle from Law 5 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that governs football laws. The law states that a referee "cannot change a decision to restart play once play has restarted, even if they realize they have made a mistake or are informed by an assistant." This means that because the corner kick has already been taken, VAR cannot review the situation that led to the corner.

Allowing VAR to intervene in corner kick or goal kick decisions would necessitate an adjustment to IFAB's laws.

An IFAB advisory panel, comprising former players, coaches, and referees, has expressed concern that expanding VAR's powers risks excessive match disruption. On average, top-tier matches feature around 10 corner kicks, implying VAR might need continuous checks under the new mechanism. This contradicts the objective of reducing VAR review times and limiting its impact on game flow.

Despite this, FIFA remains determined to push for changes following a series of controversial incidents. Nottingham Forest coach Sean Dyche has publicly criticized repeated officiating errors related to corner kicks. In their match against Bournemouth on 26/10, Forest conceded a goal from a corner kick that should have been a goal kick. A week later, they again conceded against Manchester United when the referee incorrectly ruled the ball had not crossed the byline.

Dyche argues that such situations would only require 5 seconds for VAR to resolve, rather than relying on the limited perspective of an assistant referee positioned 70 to 80 meters away. "If technology can accurately determine if a ball has crossed the goal line by just 1 mm, why can't VAR quickly check if the ball has gone out of play?", he stated.

Beyond considering intervention for corner kick decisions, IFAB is also discussing the possibility of granting VAR the authority to review second yellow cards. Under current rules, when a referee issues a second yellow card to a player, resulting in an indirect red card, VAR cannot intervene, even if the error leading to the second yellow card was a refereeing mistake.

The proposal to expand VAR's powers will be presented to IFAB next month. For approval, it requires at least 6 out of 8 votes. FIFA holds four votes, while the four associations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have one vote.

If approved, the 2026 World Cup would be the first tournament to implement these changes.

Hoang An compiled