The Use of VAR May Expand to Yellow Cards

• VAR may include yellow cards and penalties in the future
• Abuse of refereeing is increasing in modern football
• David Coote is unlikely to return to officiating after being dismissed

The chief referee of the Premier League, Howard Webb, expressed the opinion that the video assistant referee (VAR) system could be expanded to include decisions regarding yellow cards and penalties. Webb noted that lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), are discussing how VAR functions, and he is open to discussing possible expansions.

At the moment, VAR is used to review decisions that can significantly impact the match, such as goals, red cards, penalties, and player identification. Webb indicated that if participants in the game believe that expanding the use of VAR would be beneficial, he is ready for that.

Webb also raised the issue of the increasing cases of referee abuse. He referred to recent incidents where referee Michael Oliver received death threats online, and Antonio Taylor faced aggression from fans in Rome during a match in Budapest. He described this situation as a reflection of modern society, where unpunished actions regarding decisions do not give rise to abuse.

In addition, Webb stated that the reinstatement of David Coote to a high level of officiating is unlikely after his dismissal for inappropriate behavior. Coote was dismissed in June 2024 after a video emerged in which he made inappropriate comments about Liverpool and their manager Jürgen Klopp.

Tags: Sport/Football