March 30 – Video assistant referees could change the face of football in as many as 25 areas of the game, according to the technical director of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) the game’s law-making body.
Former elite referee David Elleray (pictured) told The Times newspaper this could include awarding a revolutionary penalty goal for deliberate handball on the line.
“The IFAB is looking at 25 areas of the game aiming to make it fairer and handball is one of those,” Elleray told the Times.
“One of those areas we are discussing is incidents similar to the handball by Luis Suárez in the 2010 World Cup.
“A lot of people have said in those kind of incidents why can’t you give that as a goal if it is clearly going in.”
VARs, which are likely to be used at next year’s World Cup, are already being widely trialled and could be introduced in the English League Cup from the very first round next season.
Under the system, there is no appeals process as in cricket or tennis. Instead, match footage will be constantly reviewed by a VAR, who will alert the referee if they feel an error has been made. The referee can then call for a review.
Earlier this month, Elleray gave further indications of how VARS could make a difference. “It could change the face of football,” he said.
“It doesn’t solve everything but if it gets rid of Thierry Henry and Diego Maradona’s handball goals it’s clearly going to be of benefit.”
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