Khaberni - Media reports confirm that the committee tasked with drafting football rules will present a proposal related to expanding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) powers to include interventions in cases of a second yellow card, which until now, has been outside the scope of review.
The British newspaper, The Athletic, mentioned that the committee has confirmed that another element to be discussed is the possibility of applying the eight-second rule, which is imposed on the goalkeeper when possessing the ball, to also include throw-ins and goal kicks, in an attempt to reduce time-wasting.
The newspaper also noted that an official source explained that the objective of this proposal is to address decisions that might change the course of matches through a second caution leading to dismissal, where the video assistant referee could review the situation and verify its accuracy before making the final decision.
It was noted: "The annual meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) is scheduled to be held on January 20, 2026, in London, where this proposal will be officially presented."
Concerning throw-ins and goal kicks, the proposed amendments include expanding the concept of counting seconds from the goalkeeper to moments of resuming play from these situations, in order to accelerate the pace of play and limit deliberate stalling attempts.
The law committee confirmed that discussions have also touched on ways to reduce the stoppage time caused by injuries and substitutions, alongside a proposal that official communication with the referee should be limited to team captains only.
On the other hand, some entities, headed by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), have expressed reservations about these expansions in VAR powers, considering that their addition might burden the progress of matches and increase the number of stops, which could affect the fluidity of play and spectator satisfaction.
