Arbitration could be upset in a few days with several announced tests.
Often pointed out, questioned or even accused named by players or leaders, referees have been at the heart of controversies for a long time in the world of professional sport. In football, they must above all respect rules and specifications established by FIFA at the start of the season.
Some competitions may benefit from additional means such as video assistance, the famous Var available in the Champions League or in Ligue 1 for example. Despite the presence of the Var, men and women in the center of the field still have free will and can keep certain interpretations. This could change in the coming weeks with the arrival of new rules.
From March 1, big changes could thus be put in place. Several new rules will be on the menu for reflections for FIFA experts. If these new rules are deemed positive, they could officially integrate the daily life of the referees next summer. First change discussed: the “Wenger” offside, named after the ex-manager of Arsenal, who has become a consultant for FIFA. With this new rule, a player would be reported offside if his entire body goes beyond the last defender’s line. As long as a part of his body is aligned with the line of the last defender, the player is not punished.
Second change, the announcement of the decision of the arbitrators throughout the stadium. After consulting the Var, the referees would explain their decision with a live microphone for all the spectators present in the stadium as for viewers. This format would be close to that already used in rugby. If a situation is disputed, each coach could also use a limited number of appeal to Var during an action on an action they deem problematic. A system that resembles the NBA in particular with a few “jokers” to study certain faults.
Last change, stopping the chronometer. As in rugby, so as not to waste effective playing time, the referees may have the power to stop the stopwatch to study a disputed situation or in the event of a big injury. The purpose of these changes and developments would above all be to improve the communication and understanding of the decisions of men in black … with fewer controversies and accusations to the key?