VAR - attacking team offence before the ball is in play

At a glance

  • Purpose: To allow the VAR to intervene in limited situations where an attacker commits an offence before the ball is in play at an attacking free kick or corner kick and the offence has a direct and immediate impact on a goal, penalty kick or certain red card situations
  • Approved at: IFAB Special Meeting (April 2026)
  • Trial period: Ongoing, with feedback to be collected from participating competitions
  • Contact: [email protected]

Background

    There is a growing trend of attackers tactically fouling defenders before the ball is in play at attacking free kicks and corner kicks, including:

    • Holding
    • Pulling
    • Pushing
    • Blocking

    These actions can contribute to a goal, goal-scoring opportunity or penalty-kick situation.

    They can be difficult for the on-field match officials to identify because:

    • A significant number of players may be inside or close to the penalty area.
    • Players are spread over a large area and moving in different directions.
    • Many players may be holding or pushing each other at the same time.

    Under the existing VAR protocol, the VAR can already intervene if an offence before the ball is in play:

    • Is a potential sending-off offence involving violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s); or
    • Continues as/after the kick is taken.


    This trial extends the circumstances in which the VAR may intervene to when the referee has signalled for the kick to be taken and an attacking-team offence occurs before the ball is in play and the offence has a direct and immediate impact on the subsequent outcome.

    Trial protocol

    When the VAR may intervene

    If an attacker commits an offence before the ball is in play at an attacking free kick or corner kick, and the on-field match officials do not identify the offence, the VAR may intervene and recommend an on-field review (OFR) when the offence:

    • continues as/after the ball is kicked; and/or
    • occurs after the referee's signal — by hand/arm and/or whistle — for the kick to be taken and has a direct and immediate impact (see below).

    This is in addition to the existing VAR protocol provisions for a VAR intervention for a potential sending-off offence relating to:

      • Violent conduct
      • Spitting
      • Biting
      • Extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s); and/or
      • Direct and immediate impact

    The offence may be reviewed if it:

    • helps the attacking team to score or create a goal-scoring opportunity; and/or
    • negatively impacts the defending team's ability to prevent a goal being scored; and/or
    • results in the defending team:
      • conceding a penalty kick; and/or
      • committing a red-card DOGSO offence; and/or
      • committing a second-yellow-card DOGSO or SPA offence.


    On-field review and outcome

    If the VAR identifies such an offence, the VAR may recommend an OFR.If, after the OFR, the referee decides that an offence occurred:

    • The appropriate disciplinary action is taken or cancelled.
    • The kick is retaken, in accordance with Law 8, if the offence occurred before the ball was in play.
    • If the offence continued as/after the ball was kicked, a free kick is awarded to the defending team instead.
    Protocol A

    Participation & permissions

      • Competitions must apply to The IFAB via their national FA or confederation.
      • The trial protocol must be followed in full; no variations without written IFAB approval.
      • Feedback and technical data must be supplied to The IFAB for review.

    FAQs