Sean Dyche shares his thoughts on the new World Cup rules, including using VAR for corners.
Sean Dyche recently shared his thoughts on some of the rule changes coming to this summer’s World Cup, like 10-second substitutions and new ways to stop time-wasting. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is making these updates to speed up the game and make it better for fans and players.
Pierluigi Collina, the head of the FIFA referees committee, said, “We want to clean up the game as much as we can.” Some of the new rules include a five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks, and players needing to stay off the field for one minute if they get treated by medical staff. These could really change how the 48-team tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico plays out.
VAR will also have more power, like canceling wrongly given second yellow cards or incorrect corners. It can even check fouls that happen before the ball is in play during set pieces. Sean Dyche, who has managed teams like Burnley, Everton, and Nottingham Forest and recently supported the world’s first VAR Spa (a funny setup for VAR fans), had some interesting opinions.
On the new 10-second rule for players leaving the pitch after being substituted, Dyche said, “Ten seconds isn’t a lot, especially late in the game when players are tired. It’s tough to tell if a player really has cramp or a head injury because referees aren’t doctors. I think 10 seconds is a bit too strict.”
For the five-second countdown on throw-ins and goal kicks, Dyche added, “People have been against long-ball football for years, but with just five seconds, players might just launch the ball down the line instead of making smart plays. Five seconds isn’t a lot of time.”
About the one-minute off-field treatment rule, he said, “It’s a tough rule if a player is truly hurt. But it might stop players from faking injuries because being down a player for a minute can hurt the team, especially near the end of the game. I’m all for stopping fake injuries.”
Regarding VAR changes, Dyche agreed that overturning wrong second yellow cards is important since it can really change a match. About corners, he said it’s complicated and will still cause debates, but officials have to get it right because teams try hard to play on the edge of the rules.
Dyche also spoke about VAR in general. While many fans get frustrated with it, he said, “I understand how fans feel, but VAR isn’t that bad. There are worse things, like diving or faking injuries, which hurt the game more. Some fans think VAR slows football down, and yes, it should be faster.”
He explained that fans often feel VAR decisions take longer than they actually do. “If a VAR call goes your way, it feels great. If not, it’s awful. It’s a double-edged sword. The key is speeding it up.”
Overall, Dyche thinks the new rules and VAR changes aim to make the game cleaner and more exciting, even if some ideas take getting used to. Fans can hope for faster decisions and fewer wasted moments when the World Cup kicks off this summer!