The Premier League is seeking feedback from its clubs regarding the potential inclusion of VAR to review corner kick decisions starting next season. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has granted competitions the option to assess corner kicks from this summer onwards, with the condition that it does not cause delays in taking the kick.
While this option has been adopted for the upcoming World Cup in North America, the Premier League is yet to make a final decision on implementing this change for the following season. League clubs were briefed on the regulatory modifications by Tony Scholes, the league’s director of football, during a recent meeting. It is understood that clubs will receive a survey to gather their opinions on this matter.
In another development, UEFA plans to convene the Premier League and other top European divisions this summer to harmonize their approach to VAR. UEFA aims to establish a unified interpretation of the VAR protocol and discuss potential alignment efforts for the upcoming season post the World Cup.
Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s referees chief, highlighted concerns about VAR potentially deviating from its primary purpose of rectifying clear and obvious errors and becoming overly meticulous. He emphasized the importance of consistent technical language across Europe to ensure uniformity in officiating decisions.
Comparing on-field reviews, the Premier League had an average of 0.15 reviews per game as of February 13, outperforming the Champions League’s average of 0.36 reviews this season. Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering over 1,400 live matches, including at least 215 live Premier League games annually, along with Formula 1, darts, golf, and more.