FIFA wants uniform global use of VAR, says refs chief Collina
MADRID: Former Manchester City and Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has returned to Spanish football as coach of Real Betis, his new club announced on Thursday.
The 66-year-old Chilean, who has also worked in China, has signed a three-year deal with the Seville-based oufit, running until June 2023.
The arrival of Pellegrini at the Benito Villamarin had been an open secret for several days, although Betis decided to wait until their La Liga survival had been confirmed before announcing the appointment.
Wednesday’s 3-0 home win over Osasuna let Betis in mid-table and ended any fears of relegation with three games of the season still to play.
Former player Alexis Trujillo has been in temporary charge of the club since previous boss Joan Francesc Ferrer, beter known simply as ‘Rubi’, was sacked on June 21.
The job marks Pellegrini’s return to management ater he was sacked by West Ham United last December following 18 months in charge of the London side.
He previously won the Premier League title and two League Cups in charge of City between 2013 and 2016.
Having enjoyed considerable success in South America, Pellegrini first came to Spain as coach of Villarreal, where a five-year stint featured a run to the Champions League semifinals in 2006.
He let for Madrid in 2009 but lasted just a season in which his side finished second to Barcelona and lost in the Champions League last 16, despite Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema all arriving at the same time as the coach.
Pellegrini’s last Spanish club was Malaga where he spent three seasons before leaving in 2013 having taken the team to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
MANCHESTER: FIFA wants VAR video reviews to be applied in the same way across all competitions, as they take over direct responsibility for the system.
Issues concerning VAR have been handled primarily by IFAB, the game’s law-making body, during the system’s two-year experimental phase and its introduction as part of the laws of the game.
Soccer’s global governing body FIFA, however, took over the role of supporting competition organisers with the implementation of VAR from July 1.
Pierluigi Collina, the Italian former World Cup referee and chairman of FIFA’S Referees’ Commitee, told Reuters the move was a “natural transition”.
“IFAB as an organisation has the duty to govern the laws of football, including VAR and the protocol and regulations. Once the laws of the game are set, IFAB’S job is over,” he said.
“It is then FIFA that deals with referees’ education around the world supporting all the member associations.”
There have been some variations in the use of VAR in different competitions and national leagues, but Collina said there should be a uniform approach.
“Another responsibility of FIFA’S is to have the laws of the game implemented all over the world in the same way, there cannot be different implementation of the laws of the game in different continents or different countries. Our responsibility is to ensure that football is played in the same way all over the world.
“Can you imagine in international competition played by teams who are used to having different interpretations of the laws of the game in their domestic competition? Saying that VAR should be used in the same way all over the world is something obvious.
“Of course there can be some small differences, but the general implementation should be the same.
“It is FIFA and IFAB’S responsibility to have the game played the same way across the world, for the benefit of those who are playing,” he said.
The Premier League has not used VAR to check for encroachment off the line by goalkeepers during penalty kicks despite that element being part of the protocol.