A-League execs will seek permission from FIFA’s rule-making body to change the "hugely controversial" video assistant referee system "in the wake of a rising tide of protest over the time decisions are taking to be made," according to Tom Smithies of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. After a record six red cards in one round, "five of which involved the VAR," the head of the A-League believes the process of decision-making "could be halved" if the Int'l FA Board agrees to his proposal. The delays involved in the VAR have "sparked derision among fans and players, with many calling for it to be scrapped." A-League CEO Greg O’Rourke said that a major part of the VAR “protocol” laid down by the IFAB "needs changing, giving referees much more freedom to take the advice of the VAR rather than review replays of an incident themselves." O'Rourke: "We can't expect to shorten the process too much unless we change the process" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 11/27).
LA LIGA VAR: MARCA's José Félix Díaz reported despite the "drama of a wrongly disallowed goal" during the match between Valencia and Barcelona on Sunday, La Liga "will not be bringing forward the implementation of Hawk-Eye technology." Images from the game "clearly show" that a shot from Lionel Messi crossed the line, "however without any assisting technology, the referee ruled the goal out." Sources from La Liga said that there are "no plans to bring the use of Hawk-Eye forward from its original start date of next season" (MARCA, 11/27).
