Football’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), handed leagues around the world a brand-new option for 2026.
They were given the option to implement a rule giving Video Assistant Referees (VAR) the power to overturn wrongly awarded corners.
Premier League fans will not see incorrect corners reviewed by VAR during the 2026/27 season Credit: Alamy
If an assistant mistakenly gives a corner that should have been a goal-kick, VAR will remain silent Credit: Getty
FIFA was quick to embrace the technology for high-stakes international matches, including at this summer’s World Cup.
But Premier League fans will not see incorrect corners reviewed by VAR during the 2026/27 season, after top-flight clubs and chief refereeing body PGMOL officially voted to reject the extended powers.
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If an assistant referee mistakenly gives a corner kick that should have been a goal-kick, VAR will remain silent.
Why are corners not reviewed by VAR?
The main reason Premier League clubs rejected corner reviews is time.
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PGMOL warned team executives that checking corner calls would add significant delays to every match.
Corner decisions happen dozens of times per game, often involving fine deflections off packed crowds of legs and arms.
Replaying every tight touch in the VAR hub would freeze the action continually.
Both the league and TV broadcasters agreed that extending match times even further would alienate match-going supporters and television audiences.
Since VAR arrived in English football, managers and supporters have voiced frustration over prolonged stoppages for marginal calls.
Refereeing bosses felt strongly about keeping VAR focused exclusively on major, game-defining events: goals, penalties, direct red cards, and mistaken identity.
Opening VAR to standard restarts like corners creates a slippery slope.
Referees fear that if video officials begin checking corners, fans will soon demand VAR reviews for throw-ins and defensive free-kicks, overloading match officials and stripping away the game’s natural momentum.
While FIFA chose to use corner checks at the World Cup, the Premier League operates under a very different reality.
In a short tournament, a single incorrect corner call in a knockout game can eliminate a nation.
Former elite referee Pierluigi Collina and FIFA leadership argued that extra video checks are worth the delay to ensure absolute accuracy when tournament survival is on the line.
In contrast, a Premier League season spans 38 matches over nine months.
Clubs accepted that human error on minor restarts tends to balance out over a full campaign, making non-stop video intervention unnecessary.
What has changed for the 2026/27 season?
Although corner checks were turned down, the Premier League has introduced several new measures for 2026/27 to speed up play and combat time-wasting:
VAR Second Yellow checks: Video referees can now step in if an official clearly makes a mistake when showing a second yellow card that leads to a red card.
Five-second countdown: Referees enforce a strict five-second visual countdown on goal-kicks and throw-ins. Taking too long forfeits possession.
Subbed player countdown: Substituted players have 10 seconds to exit the pitch or their replacement must wait an extra minute before entering.
One-minute injury treatment: Players receiving on-pitch assessment or treatment must remain off the field for at least 60 seconds.
