Premier League WILL NOT be able to change offside and handball rules with VAR as FIFA takes full control

FIFA is set to take control of all VAR related activities, which means the Premier League will lose its power to implement flexibility.

Former Italian referee Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, will now oversee the system and has made it clear that he wants it to be used in the same way around the world.

The ruling means there will be changes to the offside and handball rules as well as the use of VAR to determine if a goalkeeper has left their line.

The Premier League had previously been able to show flexibility when implementing the rules

As reported in The Times, the organization sent a letter to national associations and governing bodies saying they had taken control of the International FA Board (IFAB), the gaming legislative body.

The letter read: “All VAR-related activities will now transfer to Fifa. Therefore, please direct all your VAR-related questions, comments or suggestions directly to Fifa Referee.”

Collina will succeed IFAB Technical Director David Elleray, a former English referee.

The referees will also be required to use the monitors at the edge of the field more often to review their decisions.

The league had previously been forced to ask referees to consult with field monitors more often next season, as Chris Kavanagh demonstrated when he reviewed Eddie Nketiah’s foul on Monday before deciding to send off the league. Arsenal man.

But there should be more changes. One of them will be the use of VAR to determine if a goalkeeper has left his line before a penalty has been taken.

This was seen at the Women’s World Cup last summer when Scotland’s Lee Alexander initially saved a shot on goal against Argentina before it was picked up and then converted after VAR decided that she had left her line.

The Premier League had resisted the use of VAR under these circumstances, opting instead for a common sense approach.

The Premier League had resisted the use of VAR to judge whether a goalkeeper had left his line

Defenders also have more leeway when the ball has touched their hand in the penalty area, but there will be fewer possibilities for this under the new laws.

VAR were not without controversy in their debut season with criticism of marginal offside decisions and denial of goals if the ball grazed an attacker’s arm during preparation.

The Premier League had called for changes to the handball law earlier this week after Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez harshly ruled out goals.

But the league, which has seen 94 decisions overturned this season, will now have to line up with FIFA on the interpretation of handball as well as the goalkeeper leaving the goal line on a penalty kick.

England’s elite will also have to align with FIFA’s interpretation of the handball law

Changes are expected to be made to the controversial offside rule that has been used this season

FIFA’s decision means that the four home countries, which occupy privileged positions within the IFAB, will have a reduced voice on the VAR protocol. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have one vote while FIFA has four, with any IFAB decision requiring six votes.

It will also see ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who heads FIFA’s world football development, having more of a say in the use of VAR.

Under the Frenchman’s leadership, the organization is set to change the offside law, so there has to be a clear day between an attacker and defender for a decision to be made.

The FIFA letter describes the introduction of VAR as “a universal success”.

Ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will also have more say in the use of VAR