Football’s relationship with VAR has always been a love-hate story. Now, FIFA is pushing to expand VAR checks to corner kicks at the World Cup—a move that’s causing a rift with domestic leagues worldwide. Let’s cut through the noise and look at what this really means for the beautiful game.
Why This Matters
- Corner kicks are pivotal moments—often leading to goals and controversies. Wrongly awarded corners can change the outcome of matches, as seen when Nottingham Forest conceded twice from disputed corners.
- FIFA wants consistency and fairness at its flagship tournaments. But extending VAR to corners could slow games down and strain resources, especially for domestic leagues with fewer officials and less tech.
What Most People Miss
- Resource Disparity: At the World Cup, FIFA can deploy five VAR officials per game and use advanced tech like the Adidas connected ball. Domestic leagues? Most have just two VAR staff and far less technology. It’s a different playing field entirely.
- VAR Fatigue: Fans and leagues are already frustrated with VAR delays. Extending checks to every corner (there are about 10 per Premier League match) could make games crawl—potentially sapping excitement from the game.
- Unintended Consequences: More VAR doesn’t always mean better decisions. Without the right camera angles—like during Newcastle’s goal controversy against Arsenal—even VAR can get it wrong.
Key Takeaways
- FIFA is likely to trial VAR for corners at the next World Cup, but domestic leagues are firmly opposed due to cost, logistics, and impact on game flow.
- Technology gap is real: World Cup matches can use special balls and extra cameras; leagues can’t afford that luxury.
- An expanded VAR protocol for corners would force every VAR-using league—from the English Premier League to Spain’s Segunda División—to adopt the same standards, stretching resources even thinner.
- Some changes are coming, like VAR checks for second yellow cards, because they’re rare and less likely to slow matches significantly.
Comparisons and Context
- Other sports—like tennis with Hawk-Eye or cricket with DRS—manage high-tech reviews without major disruption, but football’s constant flow and vast number of set pieces make it uniquely challenging.
- FIFA’s move mirrors its push for semi-automated offside technology, but leagues often lag behind due to cost and infrastructure.
The Bottom Line
FIFA’s World Cup can afford to be a VAR laboratory. Domestic leagues must balance technology with tradition, budgets, and fan patience. If VAR for corners becomes the global standard, expect more delays, more controversy—and possibly, more nostalgia for the game’s imperfect human element.