Video refs can call for delayed red EXCLUSIVE

A PLAYER guilty of violent conduct that has been missed by a referee can now be sent off retrospectively in the same match. In a significant rule change that is being introduced for the World Cup and will work alongside VAR, even if play has restarted the referee can later be made aware of an incident and stop the game before reviewing the offence and deciding on a dismissal. Previously, once the game had resumed, such incidents could not be dealt with. Now, red cards could even be issued at half-time if the officials are informed during the interval of an incident from the first half. It is being implemented to cut down on violent acts that have gone unpunished — or those dealt with after the game has finished. For example, Chelsea’s Marcos

Alonso was banned last month after the FA reviewed footage of his horror challenge on Southampton striker Shane Long, which was missed by officials. TV pundits were talking about the offence at half-time but Alonso was only banned five days later. Similarly, Newcastle striker Islam Slimani was banned retrospectively after he kicked West Brom’s Craig Dawson off the ball. Even if VAR had been in use, the referee would have been powerless to act because the game had stopped and restarted before being picked up by TV replays. Meanwhile, any player who gestures with his hands for a ‘VAR review’ or enters the ref’s review area will be booked.