VAR to review corners and second yellows in Serie A refereeing shake-up
Quick summary
Serie A has announced a refereeing overhaul where VAR will now intervene on corner kick decisions and second yellow card incidents, expanding its scope of review.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceSerie A is set for a notable refereeing change in 2026/27, with VAR to be used to correct wrongly awarded corners.
Each national federation can decide whether to adopt the measure, and Italy’s top flight will do so, while Serie B and C are still weighing it up, partly due to having fewer cameras available.
According to the Corriere dello Sport , Referees will be able to overturn a corner given in error, provided the review causes no disruption to the game in progress.
VERONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 03: Referee Andrea Gervasoni during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on November 3, 2013 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) VAR to review second yellow cards in Serie A A second, more significant change is also coming: VAR will be able to review second yellow cards that have been shown, though not ones that were missed.
Unlike the corner protocol, this is an IFAB directive and mandatory for all competitions. It follows a string of controversies last season, most notably the Kalulu-Bastoni incident , where the resulting dismissal would have been overturned after an on-field review had the measure already been in place.
Italian officiating is also moving towards a more UEFA-style approach elsewhere: covering the mouth during a dispute with an opponent will not bring an automatic red, with a yellow deemed sufficient, and the same leniency will apply to players who briefly leave the pitch in protest.
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What happened
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A have approved changes to the use of VAR in Serie A matches. Under the new protocol, VAR officials will be empowered to review corner kick decisions and second yellow card situations, two areas that were previously outside the scope of video review. The move aligns Serie A with broader IFAB and UEFA trends in expanding VAR intervention. The changes are expected to take effect in upcoming matchweeks and will require updated training for match officials.
Chance analysis
Expanding VAR to corners and second yellows introduces additional stoppage time and could shift tactical behavior, particularly around cynical fouls and short-corner routines. Teams that rely on disciplined defending near the box or aggressive second-yellow provocation may see their approach disrupted. This also raises the bar for referee accuracy and could reduce controversial flashpoints but increase game interruptions, marginally affecting total goals and card totals in prediction models.
Serie A officiating will be more thorough on corners and second yellows, marginally increasing match length and reducing certain referee errors.
Expect slightly more stoppage time, fewer incorrect corners, and a lower tolerance for second-yellow offenses in Serie A matches going forward.