Improving Officiating.

Are these legislations worth tweaking?

Like most things in life, football has statutes that govern the game to ensure its fairness is maintained. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has done a pretty good job determining the laws of the game and its gameplay. Despite their sincere efforts to ensure the laws are legit, fans can’t help but feel like IFAB miss the mark sometimes. Here are some of the controversial rules that have stirred up conversations from the football world.

1. THE VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREES

While VAR was initially touted as a groundbreaking technology to improve football's precision and fairness, it has grown into a source of dissatisfaction, inconsistency, and controversy. What was marketed to fans as a revolutionary feature has often felt more like a hindrance to the game's spirit and flow. It was first introduced in the Netherlands in a friendly game involving PSV and FC Eindhoven in 2016. The first professional match where VAR was employed was an official first-round KNVB Cup tie between Ajax and Willem II on September 21, 2016. The use of VARs in football was first included in the Laws of the Game in 2018-19. The UEFA Champions League also introduced VAR during this season. Since its debut, there have been numerous high-profile blunders every season, prompting questions from fans and the media around the globe. How do they actually ensure that VAR efficiency is upheld? Football authorities have to implement regular training sessions for VAR officials, as well as revise protocols to enhance communication between on-field referees and the VAR team to improve the accuracy and consistency of decisions made during matches. They also need to ensure the use of VAR is expeditious. VAR should also focus more on correcting clear and obvious errors made by the on-pitch officials and not necessarily trying to nitpick every decision.

Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in communication with VAR in a game between Getafe and Cadiz (Picture courtesy of Getty Images- Soccrates Images)

2. THE EXTRA TIME RULE

The idea of extra time in football was introduced in 1897 along with other important specifications that we know today. The aim was to ensure the match winner was decided if the initial 90 minutes of the game wasn’t enough. The extra thirty minutes have become a hard watch as seasons pass. This is because extra time can be tense and boring, as teams generally prefer to play slower and more defensive football to mitigate the chances of conceding. Also, the provision of a penalty shootout after both halves lapse kills any incentive for teams to try and get the winning goal before then. In my opinion, I think they should do away with extra time altogether and let the games go straight to penalties. Alternatively, they could spice things up by bringing back the golden goal rule. This will at least ensure one of the two teams participating in the extra 30 goes all out to find a winner.

3. THE HANDBALL RULE

The handball in football is one of the most debated and controversial laws in the game. The IFAB states that a handball offence happens when a player intentionally handles the ball or positions their arm in a way that makes their body unnaturally bigger. The key points of the handball rule are whether it’s deliberate or accidental, arm position, and what phase of play the handball is involved in, i.e. attacking or defending. The major issue with the rule currently is the ambiguity in the definitions of what is natural, as pertains to arm positioning and movement. This has led to different referees interpreting "unnatural position" differently. The introduction of VAR has made handball decisions even more controversial because slow-motion replays can make minor touches look intentional. It has also led to defenders getting penalized for handballs that seem unavoidable. When fine-tuning the handball rule, I strongly believe that the fewer tweaks made, the more efficient and definitive the rule is. Simplicity is key.

I hope you enjoyed this read.