“We Can’t Hide Our Heads in the Sand” says Collina on VAR for Corners

Pierluigi Collina has thrown his weight behind a controversial push to use VAR for corner kick decisions at the 2026 World Cup, arguing that the game cannot risk a major match being shaped by what he called an honest refereeing error. The influential referees chief made his position clear on the eve of the tournament draw in Washington.

FIFA is exploring a late expansion of VAR protocols that would allow video officials to review whether a corner should have been given in the first place. Any change would need approval next month from the International Football Association Board, the governing body responsible for the laws of the sport. With the tournament only months away, the idea arrives at a critical moment in football’s ongoing struggle to balance accuracy and flow.

Collina, the chairman of FIFA’s referees committee and widely regarded as the most respected voice in global officiating, did not shy away from the debate. He reminded reporters that modern refereeing’s technological revolution began over a decade ago for the same principle being discussed now: cutting out decisive mistakes.

He said the goal must be to reach correct decisions in every match and argued it would be a disappointment for the sport if an avoidable error on a basic restart ended up influencing a World Cup result. According to him, that same logic drove the early development of VAR 13 to 14 years ago, when governing bodies first explored how technology could support on-field officials.

Collina described the idea of reviewing corners as a logical extension of what football already accepts. He stressed that discussions are ongoing but made clear he believes the objective is worthwhile. His remarks landed at a time when VAR continues to divide federations, fans and former players.

One of the main concerns raised by critics is that expanding VAR could further slow down matches. Collina pushed back on that point. He explained that corner kicks already involve a natural pause, with players gathering and center-backs jogging into the penalty area. That brief delay of roughly ten to fifteen seconds, he argued, provides an opportunity for video officials to correct a clear mistake without adding noticeable stoppage time.

He questioned why football should ignore evidence of a wrong decision if the technology is available to fix it before the ball is put back into play. His position creates a sharp contrast with traditionalists who argue the sport has already reached the limit of VAR involvement.

The backdrop to Collina’s comments is a wider conversation about expanding video review at the highest levels. In October, IFAB confirmed it was studying whether VAR officials should be allowed to intervene when a player receives an incorrect second yellow card. That change would mark yet another step in redefining the role of technology in major competitions.

Not everyone involved in IFAB governance agrees with the push for more intervention. Mark Bullingham, chief executive of England’s Football Association and one of IFAB’s directors, has publicly rejected the idea of broadening the protocol. Speaking to the BBC in July, he said he sees no need to go beyond the current framework, a stance that reflects growing fatigue among fans frustrated by lengthy checks and inconsistent implementations across leagues.

The debate now shifts toward next month’s IFAB meeting, where officials must decide whether there is enough time and justification to introduce a trial before the 2026 World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The stakes are high. Expanding VAR to corners could reshape not only this World Cup but the future relationship between technology and referees.

The question facing football is simple. Should the sport accept that mistakes happen, or should it use every available tool to prevent them before a decisive moment unfolds? The answer may define officiating for years to come.