Pierluigi Collina, the head of the referee committee for the International Football Federation (FIFA), stated that match officials make honest decisions and always strive to perform their best, similar to players and coaches. Collina emphasized that no individual, including the FIFA president, can influence referees. He outlined the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) process, explaining that after every goal, VAR reviews the attacking phase for infringements. If an infringement is found to have impacted the goal, VAR recommends an on-field review, with no specific limit on distance or time between the offense and the goal. Collina pointed to an incident in a match between Argentina and Egypt where Marwan Attia stepped on Lisandro Martínez's foot as a clear foul. He added that if no foul is detected in the attacking phase, VAR informs the referee accordingly. Collina also distinguished between stepping on an opponent's foot, which is a foul, and natural contact after touching the ball, citing an interaction between Mohamed Salah and Julián Álvarez as an example of natural contact.
Referee Integrity Under Scrutiny
Pierluigi Collina, the head of the referee committee for the International Football Federation (FIFA), defended World Cup referees following controversial incidents, particularly those arising from the Egypt-Argentina match. Collina maintained that officials make fair decisions and consistently strive to perform their best. He cautioned that questioning the integrity of World Cup referees could result in threats directed at them and their families.
VAR Process Explained
After every goal, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system reviews the attacking phase of the play for potential infringements. This review is conducted irrespective of the distance from the goal or the time elapsed between a foul and the goal itself. FIFA Referee Chief Pierluigi Collina clarified that there is no specific limit on either parameter when VAR identifies an incident for review.
Collina also detailed the types of fouls VAR considers during these reviews. He stated that stepping on an opponent's foot is consistently regarded as a foul. This distinction helps clarify situations where physical contact occurs during a play that leads to a goal. If VAR identifies such an infringement that directly impacted the goal, it recommends an on-field review to the referee. Conversely, if no foul is detected in the attacking phase, VAR communicates this to the referee, allowing the goal to stand.
Specific Match Incidents Addressed
FIFA Referee Chief Pierluigi Collina addressed specific incidents to clarify VAR protocols. If a foul during the build-up is deemed to have affected a goal, VAR recommends an on-field review. Conversely, if no foul is detected in the attacking phase leading to a goal, VAR informs the referee, allowing the goal to stand. Collina stated that a defender is not considered to have committed a foul if they touch the ball first, followed by normal, incidental contact with an opponent. He cited an incident in the Argentina-Egypt match where Marwan Attia clearly stepped on Lisandro Martínez’s foot as a foul. However, the contact between Mohamed Salah and Julián Álvarez at the end of that same match was considered normal, incidental contact by both the referee and VAR.