Decisions made by video assistant referees are set to be interpreted by television viewers and those in stadiums at next month’s Club World Cup.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has said that if the trial in Morocco is successful, it could be rolled out in other FIFA competitions.
That could include this summer’s Women’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, a temporary concussion option trial has been ruled out in the Premier League next season.
The discussion came when IFAB met at Wembley on Wednesday after requests from world players’ union FIFPro and the World League Forum to test the protocol in the English top flight, Ligue 1 in France and Major League Soccer in the United States.
The current concussion protocols, which allow for more permanent substitutions, have come in for criticism since they were approved in 2020, with campaigners highlighting instances where a player has been allowed to remain on the pitch before being substituted later.
However, Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Bullingham, who backed the idea of a trial, says no agreement has been reached and instead the current permanent concussion option trial will continue indefinitely.
“Myself and others take the view that it is worth a trial [temporary concussion substitutes] Because we think there are examples of players that appear to be concussed and not ejected,” Bullingham said.
“The argument is that you learn more in 15 minutes than three and there is merit in assessment away from the pitch.
However, it has been decided to turn the idea of making the right decision into a reality by strengthening the use of permanent models through more education, more evidence and more incentives.
“If the permanent options are done right, that is the safest option because there is no doubt, the player will come out.”
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) head of mental health, Dr Adam White, said it was “extremely disappointing” that the trial of temporary concussion options had not been approved.
“There is a fundamental issue if players’ unions and leagues feel that football’s lawmakers are preventing them from doing what they collectively think is best to protect player safety,” White said.
“The next step will be for unions and leagues to discuss what this means and what options are available to them.”
Global players’ union FIFPRO and the World League Forum, the association of professional football leagues, said in a joint statement that they were “deeply disappointed” by the decision and would “further assess the situation” and “consider”. [their] Options go forward.”
Referees to communicate VAR decisions
There is growing frustration with the lack of communication to fans around VAR decisions.
A 12-month trial around stadium communications at FIFA events will begin at the Club World Cup – which runs from February 1-11 – and, if successful, move on to the Men’s Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia in May and beyond. Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand
It has yet to be decided whether communication in Morocco will be in French, English or Arabic.
A system where decisions were explained more clearly to those watching at home and inside the stadiums would follow the live interpretation model of cricket and the National Football League (NFL).
“We don’t think fans are getting enough information,” Bullingham added.
“We are testing it in the toughest environment because we think it will be easier in domestic leagues.”
Be prepared for more injury time
IFAB also praised its “successful” policy on stoppage time at the World Cup in Qatar, when matches lasting more than 100 minutes with stoppages became the norm.
It is keen to ensure that time in the ball game goes up and unproven options, such as a countdown clock, believe changes can be made within the existing structure of the game.
Essentially this means adding that exact figure at the end of the game, rather than a rough idea of injury time delays and total time, which will be relayed as a guide to all domestic competitions from next season.
That could mean a significant amount of injury time, but Bullingham thinks that will decrease as the effects become clearer to the players.
“Once there’s no incentive to sit down, we think injuries will decrease,” he said.
Offside controversy
The guidance on offside decisions initially relayed last summer was legislated, including the issue of players interfering with play.
Controversy surrounds Manchester United equalizing goal A discussion was held against Manchester City on Saturday and it was felt that there was a loophole in the law that required closure.
“There is no gap in the law in conclusion,” Bullingham said.
