Premier League set to block FIFA’s plan to expand VAR checks | OneFootball

Corner-kick reviews face resistance in England

Premier League set to block FIFA’s plan to expand VAR checks

The Premier League is expected to reject a new FIFA rule that allows VAR to review corner-kick decisions.

What is the new FIFA rule?

Reports revealed the position of Premier League on a new law approved by FIFA which is due to be tested at World Cup 2026.

The rule was approved by the International Football Association Board and would allow VAR to check whether a corner kick decision is correct.

For now this change is not part of the official Laws of the Game and remains optional for domestic competitions.

FIFA plans to apply the rule at World Cup next summer but each league can decide whether to adopt it.

Premier League’s clear stance

According to Sky Sports, the Premier League is expected to reject the corner-kick VAR rule. League officials are keen to avoid expanding VAR duties beyond the most important match-changing moments.

Referees working from Stockley Park already review many close decisions and league officials believe adding corner checks would lead to more stoppages and slow down matches.

VAR use will stay limited

Premier League decision-makers want VAR to remain focused on incidents that have a direct impact on results, such as:

They believe reviewing corner kicks does not meet this standard and could harm the flow of the game.

While competitions must apply mandatory IFAB law changes, optional VAR updates will not be accepted in Premier League.

What will be mandatory instead?

IFAB has confirmed another VAR-related change that will become compulsory. Referees will be allowed to use VAR to review second yellow cards that lead to a red card.

This rule will be enforced at the World Cup and later across all competitions. In contrast, the corner-kick review rule has been left to tournament organizers to decide.